#thoughts on barakamon drama

[ezralva]

Uuggh once again, this drama original character is stealing the lines that are supposed to be Hiroshi's and Naru's lines 🙄

Actually I'm already fed up that they always... Always...put her to say the 'meaningful and contemplative' lines and serious scenes that were supposedly belong to Naru, Hiroshi, and Village Chief in giving Handa the push and motivation 😒 because in doing that...it cut off some of very important moments to depict that to Handa, Naru isn't actually just a neighborhood kid he's taking care of, but is actually the main drive of Handa in finding himself on the island... It cut off the moments with Hiro to depict how Hiro isn't just like any other 'kid' who plays at his house but is the closest friend he can talk to the most due to closer age...and it cut off moments of Village chief being the father figure to Handa in the village, who is very different than his own father. So why put all of them into just 1 original character...

[leatherbookmark]

♪ today's music rec: perfume - moon

[eybefioro]

Hi, I'm Eybe!

I made this blog to have a place to obsess a little over my fixations (rn it is Good Omens obv).

I've been writing! If you want, check my ff on AO3 :) (English is not my first language, so expect mistakes. Não que eu seja muito melhor em português, mas sabe como é né)

Also... could I interest you in a ✨️ficlet or poem✨️?? Send me a word on the ask box and I'll write one for you!!

I mostly use tags for yapping. I don't tag things properly – I'm getting better at it, but don't expect trigger/content warnings. These are the ones I use with some consistency:

#woven words - Poetry stuff, apparently I'm doing that now.

#✨️Random fic rec✨️- I try to recommend a fic every so often! (It was weekly before but i couldn't keep it up LMAO. It takes me long to write the recs)They aren't spoiler free since it's a bit of a collection of my thoughts&experience reading it (I'm very enthusiastic about it)

#words after words - my ramblings about writing.

#sdrOwOrds - my fanfics & ficlets

#endless rewatch - for when I'm inevitably rewatching gomens and wanna talk about it.

#fanart i guess - hm this is new. I'm drawing sometimes. I'm not good but I have fun!

#tag game! & #ask game :D - for tag&ask games lol

#ask tag :) - all my asks.

#random ramble - more personal stuff. Whatever goes on my mind and i want to share for some reason.

I do love the ask thingy (and messages) so feel free to talk to me and send stuff! i won't bite, promise (unless you ask kindly)

(More about me under the cut)

🚧in construction 🚧

[Masterlists]

I'm too invested in music (I listen to a lot of different stuff) and fanfiction, and I do love anime and tv shows (Hannibal, Percy Jackson, The Good Place, Dirk Gently are some of them!). I like to watch people playing videogames, but don't play much myself bc I suck at them. Very much. It's comical. But I do love stardew valley, the Sims and Inscryption :)

Things that I like (and that you eventually see reblogs about (probably. Let'sbe honest this is 99% a gomens blog)):

Podcasts - Midnight burger, Magnus Archives, Dungeons and Daddies, Sherlock&Co, França e o Labirinto, Good Omens Radio drama, Paciente 63.

TV shows - Good Omens (obv), Dirk Gently, The umbrella academy, Hannibal, Percy Jackson, The good place, Interview with the vampire, Modern Family, This is Us, Dexter

Movies - Everything Everywhere All at once, Deadpool, studio Ghibli movies

Cartoons & Animes - Steven Universe, Adventure Time. Irmão do Jorel, Regular Show, Sponge Bob, Scooby Doo, almost anything hanna barbera actually, Barakamon, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, Jujutsu Kaisen, Mob Psycho, Given, SK8, Dr Stone, YuYu Hakusho, HxH, DoroHeDoro, Fulk Metal Alchemist, Beastars (I do read manga too, but it's been a while. I liked Blue Exorcist, Golden Kamuy, Deadman Wonderland, Assassination Classroom)

Music - almost anything. Some: Ghost, Sleep Token, Cartola, Pet shop boys, blur, Secos e molhados, lady gaga, Orville peck, Sepultura, Rita Lee, Scorpions, Tracy Chapman, ABBA. Stromae, Lil Simz, Liniker, Hozier, Yellow Days, MacDeMarco, Alt-j, YinYin, Queen, Lil Nas X, The smiths, The Cure, Arctic Monkeys... so much more. (My tastes tend to be very 80s tho for some reason. In general terms, Disco, Rock, MPB & city pop are what I listen the most I think?)

Games - Stardew Valley, Inscryption, Minecraft, The Sims, Cities Skylines, Katana Zero

Other - Ordem paranormal (RPG livestreams), webtoons, architecture (in general)

Dividers by Enchantings!!

[bookdragonwrites]

Buddy Daddies was good, but could've been better.

I'm sure some or all of this has been said, but here are my thoughts. Spoilers, obviously.

Before I begin: I enjoyed Buddy Daddies. I really did. I'm a sucker for accidental child acquisition and affectionate bickering. This isn't me saying Buddy Daddies is bad. It has a lot going for it and I'll very happily watch it again sometime.

However. As someone with a background in writing (though admittedly not screenwriting), I did have some issues with the storytelling.

1 Overambitious choice of genres

If you only have 12 20-minute episodes to work with, there's only so much you can properly explore or draw attention to. Therefore, it's a good idea to pick a small set of core characters, a few core themes, and a single main genre (maybe two, if they're related). Buddy Daddies got the characters right: we've got Miri, Rei, Kazuki, and Kyuutarou. Four mains is good. No issues there. The themes were fine: found family, letting go of the past, deciding what you want from life. Nothing ground-breaking, but then themes rarely are, so that's not an issue. The problem here is genre. Buddy Daddies tried to take on two disparate sets of genres at once. First there's parenting comedy with the odd bit of comedy assassin/spy silliness. Cool. Obvious choice. All for it. Then they throw in adult drama/assassin thriller. Now they're trying to juggle two genres at once, and both require a different tone and level of seriousness as well as different takes on the core themes. If they'd picked either one to focus on and used the other one more as a background worldbuilding tool, it would've been fine. Instead, I got whiplash from how fast some episodes kept switching between genres. One second, we've got Miri at daycare, doing cute kid things. The next, we've got Kazuki and Rei involved in a gory gunfight. Another minute later, we're back to Miri with Kazurei trying to troubleshoot some minor issue they think she's having. This was especially bad in the second half of the show. The thing is, mixing these two genres can be done (Spy × Family being the obvious example – it's in the title) – if you have the time for it. 12 episodes is not enough time. If they'd tried to cram the full plot of Spy × Family (or even the entire first series) into 12 episodes, it wouldn't have worked nearly as well as it did. I'm sure the Buddy Daddies team simply didn't have the budget for 24 episodes, and that's unfortunate, but they should've tailored their script to the runtime. On the opposite end of how this could've been solved, we've got something like Barakamon (12 episodes). Barakamon has a not-dissimilar set-up to the light-hearted aspects of Buddy Daddies: a Tokyo calligrapher with writer's/artist's block gets sent to a sub-tropical island, where he's essentially adopted by Naru, an outgoing girl a year or two older than Miri. Over the course of a summer full of low-stakes shenanigans, the calligrapher comes to realise that Naru (who functions more as a little sister than a daughter, but we'll set that aside) and the other islanders have given him some much-needed perspective on life. The show chooses to focus on the low-stakes shenanigans almost exclusively, and generally treats the calligrapher's professional worries as one of multiple plot devices and as a source of comedy. There are a few episodes at the end that are a bit more serious, but even those have many light-hearted moments. The first half of Buddy Daddies seemed to be trying to do a similar thing: Miri decides she has two papas now, and Kazurei have no clue how to parent, so they end up applying their skillsets as assassins to the situation. I really liked those episodes: there was some assassin stuff on the side, but mostly we were watching Miri and Kazurei get lost in the weeds of modern parenting. I wish that could've lasted. I didn't really want or need all the serious stuff to take centre stage instead. (Of course, one could just as easily have done an assassin thriller with comedy elements, but I can't think of an example off-hand.)

2 Rushed plot

Related to the previous point: a rushed second half with a climax that didn't pay off. I keep coming back to this somehow: the first half was fine. The plot was straightforward and the pacing suited the content. Really enjoyable. Kudos. Then we got into the second half, and suddenly there's a metric shitton of really serious problems with only perfunctory foreshadowing. The organisation Kazuki and Rei work for becomes a looming Spectre of Doom ('it's certain death to leave or even have split loyalties, and the Boss wants his son back at any cost, so you're both shit out of luck') rather than a vaguely nefarious plot device. Rei's past is really, really dark, and apparently needs to be dealt with in far more detail than Kazuki's. Why? Dunno. Easy drama, I guess. But fine, I'll forgive that. It's a show for adults, after all. The thing I can't forgive is the rollercoaster speed at which we then zoom through a complicated series of events. And not in a good way. Just... an endless series of stuff, one dire situation after another, with bits of Miri in between. Rei's father reasserts himself in his son's life. Miri's mother shows up again for no reason (more on this later). Kazuki just gets tossed around on the waves of constant upheaval. Kyuutarou can't decide what he wants or needs to do about any of it. At this point, I stopped being invested, because it all went by so fast that I didn't have time to care. And why the hell did Kazuki and Rei think it was remotely reasonable to go to Rei's father's house, kill a bunch of his people, demand to be left alone, and then expect to A) survive and B) be back in time for Miri's Christmas event? Did they get concussions in the plot rollercoaster? And then it all culminates in... nothing? Well, not nothing. Rei loses the use of his dominant arm. But otherwise, they get off scot-free and somehow manage to run a restaurant for ten whole years, apparently without the Spectre of Doom bothering to follow up on these two escaped assassins, who both know tons of stuff they shouldn't. They're a major liability, useless gun arm or no, but the plot doesn't seem to care. Had this been a Barakamon-style comedy all the way through, I could've let that slide, but Buddy Daddies insisted on taking on these really mature elements and then simply didn't bother giving us a climax that lived up to them. It's my understanding that the BD team were shooting for realism and a 'surprise'. The climax contained neither. Instead, I was left bewildered and wondering when the other shoe was going to drop. Apparently there only ever was one shoe.

3 Miri's mother

I liked the way Miri's mother was handled in the first half (again). She's a complicated woman who made some enormous mistakes, but I liked the way the narrative showed that not all women are cut out to be mothers, and it takes courage to admit that. The way she went about finding someone else to take care of Miri was deeply irresponsible and frankly awful, obviously, but we do get an acknowledgement that it's possible to be a mother and be unable to love your child the way she deserves. Or so I thought. Then she came back. For no apparent reason. Aha!, I thought, clearly someone's paying or blackmailing her to do this (Rei's father, maybe?). But no. She'd had a truly epic change of heart. Suddenly she wanted to be a mother again, because now she had cancer and had lost her job, so I guess she had nothing better to do than cause upheaval in her daughter's life once again by selfishly insisting that she have her back and that Kazuki and Rei, whom Miri loves, have no further presence in this young child's life. Seriously? I don't buy it. Also, way to betray the point you'd made in the first half, geez. Is it possible to resent becoming a mother (against one's will, even), or is it not? But it gets worse! Basically as soon as she has Miri back, Final Words Man bumbles in to have a protracted shoot-out. Apparently he can't just do his damn job without a bunch of unnecessary melodrama. But at least he does half the job he set out to do. Miri's mother is dead. Aha!, I thought, she isn't really dead, and she'll come back once more, this time maybe to coparent or something (or at least find some sort of compromise). But no. She's dead. The End for Miri's mother and the most unnecessary character comeback I've seen in a while. This is lazy writing for easy Sad Points. The most infuriating part is that this entire 'I want Miri back' subplot serves little purpose to the greater narrative and could've been cut with minimal drawbacks. I didn't need or want to see more of Miri's mother. Her first appearance had been perfectly self-contained and didn't leave much by way of dangling plot threads. The Spectre of Doom could just as easily have summoned Rei to go see his father and then sent Last Words Man to attack Kazuki and Miri. Why add this subplot at all if you're already having to rush through the rest of the story? Mystifying.

-rant over-

Now, again, I still found plenty to like in Buddy Daddies. It's just that it could've been so much better, and I really wonder why the writing team made the decisions they did.

[crehador]

picked up watashi no shiawase na kekkon after seeing that kimuryo and ishida akira were added to the cast as supporting characters, and oh my god

it’s beautiful

first of all the summary on the anime/light novel listings (on anilist) of this series did it so dirty, it didn’t even make it onto my planning originally because the summary was just so... bland and uninteresting

but after i started watching and thought “wait this is... kinda good, actually?” i took a look at the manga adaptation listing as well and the summary there is massively more compelling

yen press did you even try

so it’s your typical shoujo romance (excellent!) with a fantasy bent (though the fantasy aspect is... not there yet, it seems?) and after one episode i’m already feeling like there’s a ton of potential for character growth/healing

miyo, after growing up with an evil stepmother and half-sister, has completely shut herself off from Feeling to the point of not even being able to cry when she’s forced out of her family home to marry an allegedly cold-hearted man she’s never met before

my ultimate hope for this series is that miyo will not only learn to smile and be happy again with kiyoka, but that she’ll also learn how to cry again, how to be angry, how to stand up for herself

(that’s of course not to say that i want her to Suffer or that i want endless heaps of drama, i just think it would be fantastic to see her heal and flourish in this new environment to the point of being able to show all her emotions, even the negative ones)

kinema citrus is the studio behind this adaptation, and besides barakamon i haven’t seen any of their work, but if they keep up the quality that was present in the first episode this’ll easily be one of the most visually pleasing shows of the season

though i must admit i did laugh a little when miyo saw kiyoka for the first time and was like “omg he’s beautiful” because it was like a gorgeous close-up of her eye followed by a shot of kiyoka sitting there looking like Just Some Guy

girl you are the one who is beautiful!

as with any romance i’m hoping we won’t go too hard on any love triangle drama here, cautiously looking forward to seeing how things will progress

[somegirlsnerdywords2]

Anime i’ve Watched

That begin with a H (Part 2)!

Yep this is how i’m going to bring over all the anime and manga i’ve watched and posted about on the old blog. It’s not so detailed but it will have to do. Anything new I watch or read from this point on will have their own posts.

Hakushaku to Yousei (Earl and Fairy):

Genres: adventure, historical, magic, romance, fantasy, shoujo

Synopsis: In the nineteenth century, we find Lydia Carlton living in Scotland, making a living as a fairy doctor. She is one of those rare humans who can see and communicate with fairies. But no one believes her. However, Edgar is in need of someone with a vast knowledge of fairy lore, and Lydia is just that person. After rescuing her, he becomes her employer, but there are many secrets and emotions that seem to follow Edgar, who claims to be the Blue Knight's Earl.

My Rating: 6/10

Finished airing in 2008 with a total of 12 episodes. 

My Thoughts: Ah yes.... this was my phase where I watched just about anything with a blonde male lead. I vaguely remember that period in my life... which is about as much as I can say about this particular anime. Not all that memorable it would seem. Also judging by my rating it wasn’t worth remembering anyways so there you have it. 

Hanasaku Iroha: 

Genres: slice of life, comedy, drama

Synopsis:  Ohana Matsumae is an energetic and wild teenager residing in Tokyo with her carefree single mother. Abruptly, her mother decides to run away with her new boyfriend from debt collectors, forcing the young girl to fend for herself—as per her mother's "rely only on yourself" philosophy—in rural Japan, where her cold grandmother runs a small inn. Driven to adapt to the tranquil lifestyle of the countryside, Ohana experiences and deals with the challenges of working as a maid, as well as meeting and making friends with enthralling people at her new school and the inn. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

My Rating: 9/10

Finished airing in 2011 with a total of 26 episodes. 

My Thoughts: Judging by how high I rated this anime and how little I remember about it I should probably give it a rewatch but that seems unlikely atm so i’ll just leave this here and let you all decide whether to give this one a go or not... is my rating accurate or a complete mess... i’ll let you decide! The character design is cute. 

Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora (Looking Up At The Half-Moon):

Genres: comedy, drama, romance

Synopsis: After contracting hepatitis A, Ezaki Yuuichi has been confined to a hospital, away from his friends and family, much to his displeasure. To relieve his boredom, he has taken to sneaking out of the hospital, usually putting himself on the receiving end of a beating from his nurse. Upon meeting a girl his age also staying in the hospital, he is immediately captivated by her beauty. Akiba Rika's personality is not quite as captivating as her beauty however. In fact, she is rather selfish, moody, and bossy. But as the two spend more time with each other, they become closer, sharing the ordinary joys and trials of a budding teenage romance, even when darkened with impending tragedy—for Rika's condition does not leave her much longer to live. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

My Rating: 9/10

Finished airing in 2006 with a total of 6 episodes. 

My Thoughts: An angsty tragedy? That;s how this cover makes it look though honestly I can’t recall. This bunch of past anime sure don’t seem to have left much of an impression on my despite my high score for some. Suppose that happens? I can say with certainty that I didn’t love the art/ character design but that’s about it. Can’t say much to the story or anything else. Super short series run also... oh man that synopsis sure sound angsty... I feel like I probably wouldn’t rate this as highly now. 

Handa-kun:

Genres: slice of life, comedy, shounen

Synopsis:  Hated by everyone around him, Sei Handa goes about his high school life regarded as an outcast—or at least that's what he believes. In reality, Sei is the most popular student on campus, revered by all for his incomparable calligraphy skills, good looks, and cool personality. However, due an endless series of misunderstandings, Handa perceives the worship he receives from his legions of fans as bullying, leading the school's idol to shut himself off from the rest of his classmates. But distancing himself from his peers doesn't deter them from adoring him; in fact, his attempts at drawing attention away from himself often end up unintentionally converting even the most skeptical of students into believers. Fashion models, shut-in delinquents, obsessive fangirls, and more—none can stand against the brilliance that is Sei Handa. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

My Rating: 7.5/10

Finished airing in 2016 with a total of 12 episodes. 

My Thoughts: The prequel to the very enjoyable and good anime Barakamon, though honestly far more enjoyable if you look at it as an entirely separate work. The tones of the two anime a very different, while both are certainly enjoyable it causes there to be a rather large disconnect between the two. I highly recoommend the sequel (which came first) but this prequels rather meh and not necessary to enjoy the sequel. 

HaruChika: Haruta to Chika wa Seishun suru:

Genres: music, slice of life, mystery, romance, school

Synopsis:  Chika Homura begins her high school career with a goal: to develop a "cute girl" persona. After quitting the volleyball team despite her all-star status, Chika decides to join her school's underrated Wind Instrument Club and play the flute, believing it to be the most delicate and feminine instrument. For the first time in nine years, Chika reunites with her childhood friend and total opposite, Haruta Kamijou. Unfortunately for Chika, Haruta is not fooled by her efforts to become more endearing. But this does not deter Chika, and she develops a crush on the band instructor, Shinjirou Kusakabe—but so does Haruta! However, Chika's high school life just won't go according to plan, as mysteries begin appearing around her and her friends. The club members must work together to solve the mysteries plaguing the school, all while trying to find more members to compete in musical competitions. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

My Rating: 4/10

Finished airing in 2016 with a total of 12 episodes. 

My Thoughts: Nope. Just nope. Its shiny character design is about the only appealing thing about this anime. 

Hataraku Maou-sama! (The Devil is a Part-Timer!):

Genres: comedy, demons, supernatural, romance, fantasy

Synopsis: Striking fear into the hearts of mortals, the Demon Lord Satan begins to conquer the land of Ente Isla with his vast demon armies. However, while embarking on this brutal quest to take over the continent, his efforts are foiled by the hero Emilia, forcing Satan to make his swift retreat through a dimensional portal only to land in the human world. Along with his loyal general Alsiel, the demon finds himself stranded in modern-day Tokyo and vows to return and complete his subjugation of Ente Isla—that is, if they can find a way back! Powerless in a world without magic, Satan assumes the guise of a human named Sadao Maou and begins working at MgRonald's—a local fast-food restaurant—to make ends meet. He soon realizes that his goal of conquering Ente Isla is just not enough as he grows determined to climb the corporate ladder and become the ruler of Earth, one satisfied customer at a time! Whether it's part-time work, household chores, or simply trying to pay the rent on time, Hataraku Maou-sama! presents a hilarious view of the most mundane aspects of everyday life, all through the eyes of a hapless demon lord. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

My Rating: 8/10

Finished airing in 2013 with a total of 13 episodes. 

My Thoughts: Appealing premise, enjoyable comedy and pleasant looking art. An alright series overall but nothing too special from what I recall. Yes i’m doing all of these reviews from memory if you haven’t figured that out yet so sometimes I just have very little to say which is generally a result of a rather unmemorable anime.  

[elibean]

elianna’s best anime of the decade!

best of is here, under the cut is a lot of word vomit and honorable mentions and stuff

2010- princess jellyfish

2011- steins; gate

2012- tsuritama?? idk i didn’t really have a best for this year

2013- uchouten kazoku

2014- barakamon

2015- noragami (this only works bc im including aragoto, the first season was in 2014 but shhh)

2016- 3gatsu no lion

2017- made in abyss

2018- yuru camp (probably, i didn’t thoroughly go through my 2018s but)

2019- i’m still behind on this, but as of right now it’s vinland saga and i don’t see that changing tbh

spoilers to follow for steins;gate and made in abyss!

EDIT: i’m editing this like 2 weeks later bc i cant believe i forgot the promised neverland. i don’t have anything intelligent to say other than GOOD. the mystery was great, the suspense was great, the character animation was great. all good. i’m reading the manga so i’m excited to see what’s next!

ok so summer 2019- given. one of those shows so good that it got me to read the manga (only a handful of shows have gotten me to do that) so. its good yo. the character drama and the way characters interacted with each other was so much fun to watch, and also like. canon queer characters, so bonus points for that. but what really got me was towards the end, when mafuyu finally sang his song and it just destroyed me in the best way possible. the raw emotion (when he screams in the middle of the song, just *chef’s kiss*), the storytelling, i just! so good. i’m so excited for the movie but also terrified because 1) they could fuck it up so easily and 2) non-manga readers will inevatibly watch it and then say given is “cancelled” and . there’s already enough people reading the manga for the first time and doing that i really don’t want more of them

spring 2011- steins; gate! slow start, but absolutely worth it. i was hooked after the ending of episode 1, and it continued from there. but what really got me was towards the middle, when mayuri died, and then there was that episode after of just scene after scene after scene of okabe trying and failing to save her. it was so emotional and raw and GOOD, and it really raised the stakes for the following episodes. so good.

there are multiple seasons so im not giving this one a year but- natsume yuujinchou! one of the most soothing, but also emotional shows i’ve watched. the found family natsume finds with his friends but also his adopted parents after enduring abuse previously is just. ;_; all the youkai stories are done so well too, and it’s just. very good. my favorite seasons were san, shi, go, and roku (three, four, five, and six)! i still haven’t watched the movie yet tho bc i’m never in the right emotional state lol (in other words: i’m never ready to be depressed for a full day afterwards)

fall 2012- this boy caught a merman. no explanation here, i love soubi yamamoto. also assume everything she’s made 2010-2019 is on here save for meganebu and this boy suffers from crystallization

fall 2016- a silent voice. duh. have you SEEN this movie? 

fall 2015- noragami! i’m completley biased but fuk u. i adore noragami and its world and its characters and its story and i. bones season 3 when

march 2016-  kanojo to kanojo no neko: everything flows. this is 4 episodes, about 8 minutes each and i cried so

summer 2017- made in abyss. look i know this show is contreversial and rightly so. it’s got Issues, and i can’t reccomend it blindly like i can some of the others on this list but god if i didn’t love it. the music, the background art (animated by a former ghibli animator!), the story, the lore, the emotion (when reg and riko had to say goodbye to maruk...when reg finally killed mitty, and nanachi’s wails afterwards...) its Good, what do you want from me

summer 2011- no. 6. good and queer. also when am i getting my reunion. god

fall 2011- chihayafuru. hoooooo boy are my thoughts on this one Complicated. i adore chihayafuru, the sport of karuta is fascinating and thanks to this anime i learned how to play the game and joined a karuta club. even participated in an official comp in japan. .....also got my ass handed to me and was so discouraged that i quit the game So

summer 2013- uchouten kazoku. a hidden gem! i liked season 1 more than season 2, but it was such a fun show!

spring 2015- kekkai sensen. this show was so much fun! remember how the last episode got delayed for like a month+. that was fun. again i liked season 1 more than season 2, but whatever. black was my favorite! and black and white’s relationship was so sweet ;_;

winter 2015- assasination classroom. this was such a ridiculous show, but a lot of fun. karma was my fave! cheeky lil bastard

winter 2016- doukyuusei. it was queer and good

fall 2016- 3gatsu no lion. yet again i enjoyed the first season more than the second, but still an amazing show. rei was such a good main character, and his battles with depression and just his inner-mind in general were so interesting to watch. 

winter 2017- miss kobayashi’s dragon maid. this was such a feel-good show. also involved found family and was also queer and good. like made in abyss it had Issues (and like made in abyss the issues were similar....sigh), but if you can ignore those, it was really good and wholesome.

spring 2018- liz and the blue bird. i went into this having not watched hibike (besides like 2 episodes back when the first season was airing), but naoko yamada is amazing so. the raw emotions were SO GOOD. also the fantasy scenes were so much fun to watch.

??? 2019- vinalnd saga. does this count? i mean it STARTED it 2019, even if it finished in 2020. anyway this was really good

[illeity]

The Best of Spring Anime 2018!

Spring has come.

Overall Best

Golden Kamuy

"Immortal" Sugimoto Saichi is a veteran of the Russo-Japanese war. Before his closest friend died, he promised to provide for his friend's wife, and believes he can do so by uncovering a story of hidden Ainu (Japanese minority) gold hidden somewhere in Hokkaido. Alongside Asirpa, an Ainu girl out for justice, they seek the treasure, survive out the wilderness, and make good food off their fresh hunts.

The series is at once exciting and brutal as Sugimoto and Asirpa rush to recover pieces of the map. Each map owner is a minor story arc unto themselves as they are all broken, bizarre, and violent people, driven by their desires and finding the frozen forests of Hokkaido the perfect place for its expression. Sugimoto and Asirpa are roughed up in terrible ways, especially the former, as each stabbing, bludgeoning, and torture bring home the point that the people we're rooting for are not superhumans and that they  tend to find themselves in over their heads.

In addition, the story is excellent representation of the Ainu people, their culture intertwining with the story and themes. As Sugimoto and Asirpa run around the island, Asirpa becomes the link between Ainu culture and the encroachment of modern Japan. It's an adventure story, assuredly, but it's also a living memory to a people fast disappearing due to time and modernity. Highly recommended.

Best Drama

Gurazeni (Money Pitch)

The series examines the merciless world of data-driven Baseball from the viewpoint of Natsunosuke Bonda, a left-handed relief pitcher for the Jingu Spiders. The entire work is low-key drama, because the undercurrent of anxiety is very subtle and runs through every episode as Bonda and the pros around him realize they could very well be forced out of the profession they worked long and hard to get in.

It's a fascinating sports anime in that it doesn't rely on high emotions and heroic plays for its drama. Instead, it shows what it takes to be a professional and growing into maturity and the humility and hard work needed for the work at hand. Some may argue that Aggretsuko and Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii are supposedly accurate depictions of growing up and taking responsibility, but compared to those, the struggles present here are far more varied and focus more on the job and personal growth than relationships: Joy, sadness, and worry are expressed within timespans as short as baseball games and triumphs replaced by losses within the span of an inning.

Best Comedy

Hinamatsuri

Yoshifumi Nitta is a yakuza for the Ashikawa-gumi, dealing in real estate. Everything was going well for him until a large silver egg dropped on him from out of nowhere. The egg held a girl named Hina who has powerful telekinetic powers. She decides to stay on and mooch off Nitta, much to his dismay and resentment.

The fantastic thing about this comedy is that the world of Nitta was already weird before Hina came into the picture. This is a world where school-age girls become bartenders serving up drinks better than the best bartenders of Ginza, where the yakuza get their lawyer to write up a speech for a student council election and where everyone yells the same words with the same squeaky intonation when they're hurt. It's cleverly written because the stories rarely ever depend on Hina's telekinesis; it plays on the contrasting expectations people have of each other when they interact and the escalation that happens as they go along with the flow of the story, too freaked out to have the wherewithal to clarify and too curious to stop now.

Honorable Mention

Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online

Kohiruimaki Karen dislikes the fact that she's abnormally tall for a girl. On the suggestion of a friend, she decides to deal with this issue by joining an online virtual reality game called Gun Gale Online. There, she gets to play an avatar with her ideal body form: a short, petite girl wielding a short, petite, weapon, the FN P90. She expresses a unique affinity for the game, being well known in the community for being a skillful player-killer.

Except for a few episodes which act as cool-down between action set-pieces, the bulk is exceptionally entertaining tactical action. The characters ascertain the distance of hostiles and weapon type by their sound, they plan and adapt depending on their location and remaining resources, and they intelligently use and abuse the rules set by the game to get ahead of the competition. Victory isn't achieved by cutesy platitudes and super-cool moves, but by cleverness, thoughtfulness, and a bloodthirsty desire to win.

As divisive as Sword Art Online is, you can dive right in without any knowledge of the original series. Whereas SAO was epic(relatively speaking) in its scope of trying to survive alongside 10,000 other people trapped in a game world, the story here is much more personal, which starts with Karen working out her height issues and ends with her trying to save one single life.

Best Fantasy/ Sci-Fi

Hisone to Masotan

Amakasu Hisone had sleepwalked through most of her life, hoping to someday be able to do something that nobody else can. She ends up in the Japan Air Self-Defense Force with a desk job until one day, she becomes chosen to become a dragon's pilot.

In terms of story and tone, it has a definite point where it can be halved. The change isn't jarring, but you're left to wonder why things weren't foreshadowed well enough. The first half is told as slice of life and magical realism, as Amakasu opens up to her destiny and the daily work of becoming closer to her dragon, Masotan, dealing with people with a stake in the fulfillment of her duties, and her tendency to speak without tact which tends to offend people.

The second half kicks it up a gear and a half as it moves on to folklore, mysticism, and spirituality, as the purpose of the dragons is revealed, tragedy is met, and Amakasu is forced to wake up in service to her future self and the future of Japan. It's not very exciting action-wise (except until the last episodes), but it is very moving, as Amakasu shows a willingness to change, but with a tendency to be ignorant about what to change in the first place. She is groggy, stumbling to growth, challenge, and finally, love.

Best Cute Girl Anime

Comic Girls

Kaoruko Moeta is in a creative slump. Her editor sees potential in this 4-panel comic artist, so she sends Moeta to a dormitory in the company of other Manga artists in the hopes of honing her storytelling and helping her overcome her shyness.

As with most Cute Girls Doing Cute Things (CGDCT) anime, the tone is cozy, the conflicts light and minor and the plotting is thin, so most of the weight is carried by the strength of the characters and the little idiosyncrasies they exhibit that prevent them from becoming too stereotypical.

Is this case, what the characters write and draw often reflects their character. One creates a serialized shonen manga, so she is driven, masculine, and unable to get into girlish things. Another creates teens love manga and erotica so she is elegant, the straight man, and deeply embarrassed for herself. The third writes shonen manga so she fashionable, energetic, and drawn to strong feelings. Moeta writes comedy, and is often the punchline for the episode's plots: Her story pitches keep getting rejected, she is shy and deeply self-deprecating and for some reason, enjoys being doted on by older, mature women.

As someone who draws and writes, I may be a little biased, but I do appreciate anime that explores the lives of creatives (Barakamon and Sore ga Seiyuu! come to mind) and the anime does a decent job of exploring the madness of creation with a dash of cuteness. There is even a layer of bittersweetness via a second set of characters that used to create manga but had to leave it because of real life. A professional manga career may be out of the question, but they're living lives driven by creating and creativity as a little reward for their daring.

Best Girl

Asirpa, Golden Kamuy

Born of the Ainu, and experienced in the hunt, Asirpa is Sugimoto's partner as they run around Hokkaido collecting the maps to a secret hoard of gold that was stolen from the Ainu. Growing up with her father in the wilderness, she never stayed with her family, preferring to stay out for long swathes of time, hunting animals, and providing for her tribe in her own way.

The cruelty of the wilderness and nature hardened her by having her aware of the constant possibility of losing the people and things she cares about. She puts up a front when she needs to, but drops it when Sugimoto and family offer their hand in kindness.

With a fine hunt, knowledge that she is loved, and good food, the deep part of her soul bubbles out and rounds out a strong and compelling character.

Best OP

Rie Murakawa – Distance, Hinamatsuri

TV size - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St2HefvqnxY

Full size - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riX7EKXSoBQ

If you've ever seen the intro to Puella Magi Magoka Magica, you can tell how extremely deceptive it was by using bright colors, quirkiness, and a cheerful song to hide an anime that explores magical girls as torment and psychological horror. The opening to Hinamtusuri is also extremely deceptive, however, with the intent of comedy, because as straight-faced as the opening song is about yearning and memories, the drama is never as serious the opening makes it out to be. Sure, you'd see the characters staring out with uncertainty and three consecutive scenes of characters crying, but the stories these scenes talk place are played out for laughs. The opening gains even more potency a few episodes in as you get a taste for the series' style and you begin to realize how effective the opening is at being utterly ridiculous.

Best ED

D-Pai – Le Temps de la Rentrée (cover of France Gall's original), Hisone to Masotan

D-Pai version - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgKs3F2NB9w

France Gall original - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBi_Dr_QdaI

The visuals are very simple on this one, which are counted to three:

The female leads of Hisone to Masotan dancing about as if they were still in High School and things were still awkward with the opposite sex.

Quick close up rotations of the various airplanes that the dragons take shape.

Extreme closeups of each female lead during the bridges of the song.

Otherwise I'm picking this one because of the voice actor's perfect rendition of Le Temps de la Rentrée by France Gall. It's unique joy to hear a French song in an anime. It sets them apart from the rest, especially if it is as jazzy and ebullient as this one.

[mugoki]

After finally breaking out of a years long anime slump, i've been able to complete several series, wiee! 🎉

Beside Ghibli movies, here's some series i've watched so far:

• Barakamon ✔️

I've been reading the manga during this summer and naturally fell into the anime afterwards, and found it just as relaxing and fun! Such a wholesome show, about a calligrapher who moves to the countryside after a severe burnout. At the countryside he get to experience new customs and culture, most of all - new friends! ♥️

• Kiss wa Hitomi ni Shite (The kiss on my eyelid?) ✔️

I felt like watching old timey anime, like 80's style, and picked this one by random. A girl one day wakes from a dream about a cute guy kissing her, only to see that very guy arrive as a new student in her class! And he.. remembers the kiss too!! 👀 Ooooh. I really liked it, cheesy and cute!

• Mahou no Tenshi Creamy Mami ❌

I've been eyeing this old anime for a while because of the pastel aesthetics, but ended up not liking the characters or plot very much so did not finish, but happy that i at least tried.

• Azuki-chan the Movie ✔️

It's so strange, i didn't like Creamy Mami despite all it's effort, but this random old short movie.. i really enjoyed! Cute slice of life, my favorite genre. The eyes reminds me of the Tintin comics? About three girls who gets invited to a classmate's skiing cabin for Valentine's, but they lie up some excuse not to go because planning to ask some boys out. But then they find out the classmate invited the boys too, so now they can't go back on their lies and drama ensue. Wish the series were available somewhere, would watch!

• Sweetness and Lightning ✔️

I think a friend recommended this to me?? I can't remember but i watched and was so surprised how heavy food orientated this show was! The plot follows a widowed dad who has to learn how to cook food for his daughter, and also face typical kindergarten kids drama! It was interesting, and felt realistic. He takes dinner lessons at one of his students restaurant and soon other friends join in 😩♥️ omg the father's friend Yagi is so my type, but he barely has any lines, haaah sad. Amazing series, highly recommend!

• Odd-Taxi ❌

Anthropomorphic world where a taxi driver get himself involved in some sort of missing person case, i'm not sure.. I only stayed til episode 4, then lost interest. I expected it to be like a taxi driver journal with new clients and adventures in every episode, but instead it's like a murder mystery? I think personal expectations and wishful thinking ruined the show for me, haha. Animation and VA were great tho!

• Handa-kun ✔️

After finishing Barakamon i watched this prequel about the young calligrapher in high school. He thinks everyone is out to get him but actually everyone looks up to him, the show rely heavily on misunderstandings! Maybe it wasn't so smart to go backwards in this franchise because i couldn't help compare it to Barakamon, making the jokes of Handa-kun a little forceful but still ok!

• Gokushufudou (The Way of The Househusband) ✔️

Been reading the manga lately, and the anime is direct translation of the comic so there were nothing new sadly but i LOVED the voice acting ♥️ fits perfectly!

• Enen no Shouboutai (Fire Force) ❌

Back in 2019 when Fire Force anime came out, i took one look at the characters and was certain i would love the series - bought merch! Finally finding time to read the manga, i realized.. i didn't like it. So ok, maybe the anime is better i thought. Then i watched it and.. didn't like it either. 😱 The goofy sexual humour isn't funny for me and the sad stories of the victims were cut so short there were never any empathetic build-up. The opening song is INCREDIBLE though, i've listened an embarrassing amount of it by now.

[avenger-hawk]

I feel a bit embarassed replying so fast, as you've replied quickly so it appeared really fast on my dash, I suppose so as you're one of the 65 blogs I follow (i had to say this because this replying speed is borderline stalkerish kill me)You're absolutely right on sof/romance, I suppose I wanted 'meaningful' that was well writen sof/romance, that clicked well and couldn't exactly find it when I was younger. Btw, Bakuman is an admirable choice. (1)

I wish to confidently say that that was purely the case, but actually because well, it was in a real life setting, and I didn't want to read and think about real life. I really relied on entertainment like this (besides books) for escapism and meaning. Because real life for me throughout my teenage years equate to suicidal thoughts, emptiness and misery because of my bipolar disorder. So I would choose something the furthest away from real life, that matched my whirlind of emotions (2)

(or lackthereof) better. But after being forced to seek treatment from trying to commit suicide, suddenly I was in a at an age where I thought I would never be in. I had adult roles to fulfill and with other life difficulties like illness, death etc, I had wider perspectives I suppose. Some meaningless manga has meaning because it is meaningless, it is enjoyed because it is meaningless.  Of course, I still have opinions and preferences (3)

most of the time I know instantly what I like and what I don't like and I filter and skip stuff very well, also bad fanfics are because of wrong characterization and understanding are bad fanfics no matter how you frame and romantacize it @those people. I guess yeah, haha. (4)

Hahah don’t worry, I don’t see quick replies as embarrassing.

I am sorry about your mental problems, I hope you’re ok now, you sound like a strong person💪🏼

I understand completely, I don’t imagine how bipolar disorder feels but I have an OCD that I’ve been keeping under control for a year, and I think I always had depression. I too relied on escapism on books, manga, anime, whatever, and I totally refused realistic settings because I didn’t want to see real life anything. My sister was and is so into romcoms and I couldn’t understand why ppl want to see something so boring, or romance in general, but also growing up stories, teen dramas and so on. I thought that all that shit is what he have around every day of our lives but fiction had to be about other realities, supernatural stuff, powers and cool things, space, exploration, anything but reality. And ofc in these settings I enjoyed friendships and romance, but not as the main things, and tbh I’m kinda still like this. Except for Barakamon that is really well done.

I also understand how you felt and feel upon growing up and facing adult situations and difficulties, they really widen your perspective, tbh I’ve never thought about it this way but I agree. That’s also why, I guess, all this discourse about problematic ships and wrong content in fiction seems so pointless. Not only because I value individual intellectual freedom more than anything, but also because looking from a wider perspective, it’s just the whining of some rich bored kids in blonde protestant countries (although they spread their shit everywhere)  who wants to appear like some cool activist and intellectual anyway but who’s too lazy to go out and help those who really need it.

You’re right, some things are meaningless and enjoyable anyway, if you’re in the right mood. Others, like bad fanfics, are horrible no matter what xD

Have a good day Anon!

[ezralva]

Eeh? Kousuke will already appear in episode 2?? Are we already in ep 6 of the anime?!

So fast...

[recentanimenews]

Bookshelf Briefs 9/2/20

Yay! Sean’s back!

Barakamon, Vol. 18 + 1 | By Satsuki Yoshino | Yen Press �� I had thought this was something like an epilogue to the series, but it ends up being more of a hodgepodge—there’s a number of 4-koma strips, there’s interviews and yes, there is a short “years later” mini-chapter that assiduously avoids showing us Naru looking older, though it teases it. Instead, the majority of the book is an artbook, showing off color illustrations. And that’s the reason to get it as well, as you’re reminded that the art was also a big strength with this series. The pieces are very character oriented, showing Handa and company in a variety of poses and places, and it adds to the overall peaceful feel that we got from this series. I’ll miss it. Also, show us teenage Naru, you cowards. – Sean Gaffney

Goodbye, My Rose Garden, Vol. 2 | By Dr. Pepperco | Seven Seas – I never actually reviewed the first volume of this series—it came out in the height of COVID isolation, and I was bogged down in other things. It’s quite good, though, being a fairly tortured yuri drama without quite tipping over the edge into melodrama, although the reason it reads so well is that it balances on that edge quite nicely. Here we learn the story of Alice and how she became everyone’s favorite suspicious person, as well as the tie that binds her past with Hanako’s. As for the two of them as a couple, we aren’t there yet, and may not ever get there—it’s unclear if there’s a happy ending coming here. Nevertheless, you hope for one—these two need some good things happening to them. – Sean Gaffney

Goodbye, My Rose Garden, Vol. 2 | By Dr. Pepperco | Seven Seas – I really wish I liked this more. I like the setting—England in 1900—and two heroines who love books (and talk about Oscar Wilde and Sherlock Holmes!) and want to thwart society’s expectations of women while still being constrained by them. But everything just moves so fast! I found myself wishing this was a romance novel instead so it could have a little time to just breathe. They love each other, they find out secrets, Alice’s mom and fiancé conspire to get Hanako sent away, Alice finds her, more secrets are revealed. Nothing really lands with any emotional impact because it’s cruising right along and, in fact, comes to an end in the next volume. I will probably see it through to its conclusion but am overall kinda disappointed. – Michelle Smith

Horimiya, Vol. 14 | By Hero and Daisuke Hagiwara | Yen Press – This is the manga that never ends. It goes on and on, my friends. Given that the writer and publisher seem dedicated to avoiding the original ending of the webcomic, there’s not really much that can be done here except ‘everyday high school life’ shenanigans,’ to the point where I was for once reasonably pleased when Hori’s sadist/masochist tendencies come to the fore again, as she spreads a childish nickname for Miyamura just so that he’ll get mad at her. That said, despite the two being a seemingly close couple, at the end of the day Hori is still a horribly flawed character who needs constant validation and can’t trust her own feelings. She’s the most annoying and most interesting part of this. – Sean Gaffney

I Don’t Know How to Give Birth! | By Ayami Kazama| Yen Press – This is an excellent combination of biography, information, and comedy, as the author and her husband take us through the steps they took in order for her to have a child—more steps than you’d expect, as they eventually need in-vitro fertilization—and how she felt as she went through the process, ranging from “why am I doing this? My husband is the one who really wanted kids” to “I am getting in touch with my inner animal!” Scattered throughout are facts about preparing for nursing your child, Japan apparently not teaching expectant mothers how to push, and the lack of meds in their non-Tokyo hospital. All this is done in a fun way, with the author’s self-portrait having an arrow in her head. – Sean Gaffney

An Incurable Case of Love, Vol. 4 | By Maki Enjoji | Viz Media – Should you sacrifice your dream for love? Well, not if you’re in a romance manga, but it’s a question that’s thought about long and hard in this volume, as Nanase discovers that Dr. Tendo is getting an offer to study abroad so he can research a condition that killed someone he knew in his past. He is seemingly fine with abandoning it and staying with Nanase, but another patient with the same condition shows that he’s not as cool and collected as you’d expect. As with previous volumes, this strikes a good equal balance between the medicine and the romance, and there is also some lightness of tone, such as Nanase mistaking her lovesickness for a heart condition after the two spend the night together. – Sean Gaffney

A Man and His Cat, Vol. 2 | By Umi Sakurai | Square Enix – The more we see of Kanda’s late wife, the more we see how much her death has devastated him, and we are grateful for Fukumaru for being there. That said, Fukumaru is a big, awkward, untrained cat, so this inevitably leads to events like the cat breaking precious pictures and the like. The cat is also somewhat jealous of anything that gets in between him and his master. So it’s a nice mix of cute ‘the cat is destroying the house and acting like a cat’ antics and ‘the cat is basically the one thing keeping his owner away from despair.’ Kanda’s utter adoration of Fukumaru’s cuteness (made funnier by the fact that, to most everyone else, Fukumaru’s pretty goofy-looking) may be the best part of this. – Sean Gaffney

My Dress-Up Darling, Vol. 1 | By Shinichi Fukuda | Square Enix – Wakana has an unusual hobby—he admires and creates traditional Japanese dolls. In part because of this, he’s become a loner, but that changes after his popular high school classmate Marin discovers his talent with a sewing machine and convinces him to help her make a (sexy) cosplay outfit. Marin is passionate but not a skilled seamstress, so she hopes Wakana’s experience making doll clothing will be of some use. My Dress-Up Darling is rated “mature.” The first volume does include some risqué images and topics of conversation; however, it’s not overly explicit. Later volumes might become more so, but right now the story itself is surprisingly wholesome and the characters endearing. I’m really looking forward to reading more of the series and seeing Wakana and Marin’s relationship develop. But perhaps even more, I’m hoping to see Wakana follow Marin’s example and become more confident in himself and his interests. – Ash Brown

My Hero Academia SMASH!!, Vol. 5 | By Hirofumi Neda| Viz Media – The last volume of this series really does not stray from its mandate of ‘gags.’ We see 1-A and 1-B team up for a rescue exercise, the highlight of which is seeing that even the SMASH!! author thinks that Itsuka is a better Momo than Momo is. There’s some of Deku being such a hero fanboy that it’s hilariously creepy, and everyone participating in comedy training. (I was not prepared for Uraraka’s fantastic Aizawa impression.) There’s tanabata festivals, held back by a personality change in Bakugou (this actually comes up TWICE). And we end with a “years in the future” that isn’t really, with only Deku left to be the straight man. I’m happy this is ending now, but it was also a good deal of fun while it lasted. – Sean Gaffney

Snow White with the Red Hair, Vol. 8 | By Sorata Akiduki | Viz Media – As expected, ‘making the relationship public’ gets put on the back burner, mostly as reality is far too complicated for things like that to go smoothly. Instead we spend much of this volume transitioning into a new arc, featuring Shirayuki and Ryu going up north to snow country to study as herbalists there… with the added addition of Izana, who is traveling there incognito to annoy his brother and to study Shirayuki further. In between these things we get a story looking deeper into Obi, who I sometimes get the feeling the author would be more happy making the lead character. It adds up to a good solid volume of the series, though I suspect the next volume will set a better pace. – Sean Gaffney

Teasing Master Takagi-san, Vol. 9 | By Soichiro Yamamoto | Yen Press – The rule of thumb in this series is that Takagi is more readily able to admit her own feelings to herself than Nishitaka is to himself. His embarrassment and wariness of any action that he’s goaded to by Takagi leading to a “ha ha, so you like me!” moment drives whatever he does, and the moment he gets over this the series ends. (Mostly—the unlicensed next-gen series shows he never quite gets over it.) Takagi CAN occasionally be embarrassed—my favorite chapter in this volume, where they’re sending texts to each other, ends with her blushing—but for the most part is content to tease him every day and patiently lead him to a point where they can be a couple. It’s not happening anytime soon. – Sean Gaffney

To Be Next to You, Vol. 8 | By Atsuko Namba | Kodansha Comics (digital only) – On paper, To Be Next to You looks like standard shoujo fare. Nina Uemura is in love with her next-door neighbor, Kyosuke Tachibana, and to try to forget him, she started going out with a classmate. But when Kyosuke collapses with a fever on Christmas Eve, she bails on her boyfriend (Miyake-kun) to take care of him. Miyake-kun realizes that whatever happiness they can achieve together will always be vulnerable to being swept aside in an instant, and breaks off their relationship. What I love is how skillfully Namba-sensei has shown Nina’s maturation process throughout this series—she’s definitely not the same oblivious girl we encountered in volume one—and that we get little moments like Miyake-kun telling his friends what happened and them crying on his behalf. Between this and That Blue Summer, I have become a true Namba fan. I hope we get more from her soon! – Michelle Smith

By: Ash Brown

[downloaddubbedanime]

16 Of The Best Dubbed Anime Shows That Will Make Your Jaw Drop

I'm bad-to-the-bone with regards to names, so this post will undoubtedly come sometime.

You know what I've seen about named anime appears? There's a perpetual measure of fans who HATE named anime's.

In any event that is the thing that I've seen from being a piece of the online anime network.

For what reason do fans detest anime names? I don't have the foggiest idea, and I'm not here to wrangle about it.

Regardless of whether I don't get it (well, perhaps a bit).

In any case, what I am here to share is 16 of the best named anime indicates I've ever observed.

So we should hop straight into it, heads first!

I'm certain you'll discover an incentive in a couple of these English-named appears. At any rate… .

1. Cleaning specialist Sama

Cleaning specialist Sama? With a name like this must be an array of mistresses anime highlighting hot cleaning specialists, isn't that so?

That announcement is wrong to the point that it damages to try and read it.

Cleaning specialist Sama is a sentiment/comic drama arrangement concentrated on the two principle characters: Usui Takumi and Misaki Ayuzawa.

What's more, I need to state: It's a standout amongst other dubbed anime indicates I've ever seen.

It's the reason I've come to find such a significant number of incredible anime appears on my adventure.

Particularly in the genreof parody and sentiment.

Furthermore, not at all like comparable shows in its class, it's so one of a kind you can taste it.

Every scene urges you to take another nibble at it. Since it's a joy to watch.

An anime that can influence me to chuckle, recount a story and keep me intrigued merits my acclaim. 100%.

2. Nodame Cantabile

Nodame (on the left) and Chiaki (on the right) are the primary characters of the show.

Nodame Cantabile is an anime about performers set for seek after their interests.

While still in school.

I'm shocked I've never observed this anime suggested by anybody (one individual possibly).

The naming is right on the money. The voices play so well with the characters. Furthermore, obviously the anime itself is a star in its own particular right.

Decent blend of parody/cut of life and sentiment all blended into one. Without the platitude's seen in comparative shows.

3. It's You Guys Fault I'm Not Popular

Watashi (in Japanese) is a cut of life anime concentrated on one primary character.

Also, that character is Tomoko Kuroki (with the dark hair above).

In the event that you think you've seen all the cut of life appears there are to see… Just hold up till you watch this.

Watashi is the most cumbersome, discouraging, wince actuating anime arrangement I've seen.

Tomoko Kuroki attempts to make companions and associate with others. In any case, bombs so hopelessly that it damages to try and watch.

I believe it's this part of the anime that influences it to sparkle. Since there aren't numerous cut of life demonstrates that express the "revolting" side of a characters identity and inadequacies.

Try not to miss this one!

4. Barakamon

This anime helps me such a great amount to remember Nodame Cantabile. They're both so indistinguishable from multiple points of view.

The naming is extraordinary in the two shows.

Barakamon is a cut of life arrangement concentrated on the calligrapher: Seishuu Handa. A multi year old who's sent off to live on an island to change his conduct. What's more, take a shot at his self-improvement.

Barakamon will make them chuckle relatively every scene. Furthermore, far better than that, you'll cherish the character improvement.

A standout amongst other characteristics of this anime is the manner by which it controls from fan-administration and "group of concubines" viewpoints.

Goes to demonstrate to you an anime needn't bother with all that stupidity to demonstrate how incredible it is.

5. Meetings With Monster Girls

Meetings With Monster Girls, an anime discharged in 2017. The story is based off its unique light novel arrangement.

It's yet another cut of life anime arrangement that is enjoyable to watch, maintains a strategic distance from basic buzzwords, and has an incredible name.

The 4 principle female characters are Demi-Humans. Each with their own particular individual capacities, disadvantages and difficulties.

As you watch the anime every understudy experiences the test of making companions with customary people.

Furthermore, attempting to fit into a general public that doesn't comprehend them for their identity.

it is anything but a quick paced show, and I like that about it.

The pace is perfect and it's another most loved of mine the extent that cut of life demonstrates go.

6. Claymore

Claymore is an activity/dream demonstrate brimming with outrageous savagery, dim and passionate minutes.

It's one of the initial couple of anime's I at any point viewed.

The story centers around Clare, a Claymore. Which implies she's a changed person goal's identity's to decimate Yoma.

You can consider Yoma a kind of evil spirit/monster with super human quality.

Of all the astounding and stunning scenes I've seen in numerous shows, Claymore emerges.

What's more, the voice-throwing fits the part of each character without making a decent attempt or giving up quality.

On the off chance that gut and brutality are the shows you're into (like AOT or Akame Ga Kill), try the named form out.

7. Amagi Brilliant Park

Amagi Brilliant Park is a short anime in the drama/enchantment classification.

The story centers around a mystical carnival very nearly going bankrupt, on the off chance that they can't acquire enough clients.

I thought the name was entirely damn great. Furthermore, a portion of the parts certain characters play made them snicker all through.

What's more, the discourse is really sharp.

I like the "business" part of this show. Alongside the reality there's parody and enchantment mixed into it.

It's not the most mainstream appear but rather it doesn't need to be

I'd suggest it in case you're an admirer of comic drama anime's. What's more, would incline toward an arrangement that is short (13 scenes).

8. Dark Lagoon

Dark Lagoon is the most criminal invaded anime demonstrate you'll ever watch.

It's far fetched you'll discover an anime that can contend inside a similar sort, not to mention beat the nature of this arrangement.

Dark Lagoon highlights 4 primary characters: Revy, Rock, Benny and Dutch.

Straightforward names, correct? That is the thing that makes their names simple to recall.

As you plunge into the arrangement you'll begin to see exactly how dull, contorted, profound and coarse it is.

Also, the thing is: the way this anime plays out is realistic to the point that it's equivalent to reality.

The anime accomplishes in excess of a great job of exhibiting profound issues in an enlivened manner. What's more, that is the reason it's outstanding amongst other arrangement for me.

Furthermore, when you consider how the English named variant is so great,… It just makes Black Lagoon a lot more intense and commendable among named anime's out there.

9. Hyperdimension Neptunia

Hyperdimension Neptunia is a farce/comic drama anime arrangement in light of a universe of gaming and CPU'S.

The anime arrangement is taken from the computer games on the Play-station 3 and PSP.

Contrasted with different shows on this rundown, Hyperdimension isn't the best.

Particularly not the extent that narrating, cliche's, quality and what not.

Be that as it may, (and it's a major yet) the naming, voice throwing and exchange is PERFECT.

I can't get over how amusing this anime indicate is on occasion. Or on the other hand how the makers figured out how to haul out such an engaging exchange all through the arrangement.

From time to time I'll watch an Anime demonstrate that I feel has so much potential… But it doesn't satisfy it.

But in the meantime figures out how to include characters who I adore so much that it's stunning.

Hyperdimension Neptunia is one of those "peculiar" anime's for me.

What's more, the naming won't baffle you in the event that you try it out.

10. Full Metal Panic

You can tell just by taking a gander at the picture this anime is from another planet.

Furthermore, as you begin to get into it, you understand it IS from another planet all together.

Full Metal Panic is one of only a handful FEW mecha anime's I've at any point viewed.

What's more, I don't lament watching this mecha appear specifically.

Season 1 begins at a moderate ish pace. Concentrating on the primary characters: Sousuke Sagara. Who has a Militant foundation and works for an autonomous Military gathering.

The other fundamental character: Kaname Chidori. An understudy chamber president who's mindful, well known, humble, yet is in threat of being abducted.

Beside the considerable naming, voice-throwing and discourse, Full Metal Panic is a bizarre show.

Meaning the primary arrangement got me intrigued, yet didn't abandon me "imperfect" by how great it is.

The second season overwhelmed me, and I couldn't trust the second arrangement was such a great amount of superior to the first.

What's more, the third "side-story" season stunned me once more by how damn-great it is.

I can't name an anime arrangement with a season 2 that bulldozes season 1.

It's incomprehensible in all types of film and diversion.

What's more, that is the reason I can't suggest Full Metal Panic enough. It's such a first class demonstrate brimming with such a large number of shocks.

11. Shiki

Shiki is a ghastliness/riddle anime arrangement similar to Higurashi: When They Cry.

Contrasted with Higurashi, Shiki begins off with a moderate pace. Truth be told as I got into two or three scenes I began to question whether it merits viewing.

Be that as it may, at that point the pace begins to get and every scene began taking my breath away out of my skull. Piece by piece.

The naming, voice throwing and discourse is right on target. The narrating is a standout amongst other I've at any point seen (regardless of whether moderate).

What's more, the authenticity is mind-boggling. Shiki is one of the saddest, most merciless and intriguing anime's made.

What's more, you'll be asking why you didn't watch it sooner when you're finished with it.

12. My Hero Academia

Hero/otherworldly anime arrangement are so ordinary and commonplace in the anime network.

The're a standout amongst the most (if not the most) prevalent kinds of anime appears on the planet. Like DBZ, Fairy Tail, et cetera.

That being said – My Hero Academia is an anime which got me unsuspecting.

I'm the kind of fellow who subsequent to finding out about an Anime excessively, I block out and end up uninterested. Since there's nothing more regrettable than an Anime that can't satisfy the promotion.

Be that as it may, My Hero Academia is in its very own group. Demonstrating that you needn't bother with "innovation" to make something a perfect work of art.

The naming is first rate, the voice throwing is flawless, and the execution is sharp. In addition the story catches your eye from the plain first scene.

Out of all the named anime appears out there, My Hero Academia should be on this rundown.

13. Owari No Seraph

Owari No Seraph is another anime that filled me with questions. Yet, I felt free to try it attempt at any rate.

It's an activity/dream arrangement like Black Bullet and Akame Ga Kill.

The main scene begins off like Attack On Titan. Meaning it's loaded with feelings, pity and agony.

Enough to attract you and make you inquisitive in the matter of what occurs straightaway.

In the wake of watching the two seasons 1 and 2, I can state it's a truly good show. The voice on-screen characters completed an extraordinary activity coordinating the vocals to the characters.

With the goal that's a win the extent that English naming goes.

The anime itself isn't the most activity stuffed I've seen. In no way like Akame Ga Kill or Fate Zero.

In any case, the story, the characters, their parts and identities more than do it for me.

What influences this show to emerge is simply the characters. What's more, the family-like bond they construct together.

On the off chance that there's ever a season 3, I'd seize the opportunity to see it.

14. Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid

Another 2017 Anime arrangement with "somewhat" comparable perspectives to Interviews With Monster Girls.

Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid is a cut of life/comic drama with irregular, ground-breaking, over-the-top winged serpents.

The naming is flawless in this anime simply like Interviews With Monster Girls. The voice cast is incredible, and the discourse is splendid.

Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid for me is a standout amongst the most unwinding, yet funny anime's I've viewed.

It's the sort of show you can watch without being excessively genuine about it.

What's more, to me that is one of the anime's best characteristics. Furthermore, I figure they completed a stunning activity from beginning to end.

15. Murder La Kill

Murder La Kill is an activity anime arrangement that at to begin with, appears to be strange and over the best.

From the outside in it's an anime that makes a decent attempt and is somewhat unpredictable. Like how Ryuko's outfit looks sensual and over-uncovered when she controls up.

Furthermore, the entire "change scene" looks a considerable measure like Sailor Moon.

That being stated, this is another anime arrangement that demonstrated me off-base.

As I said before, innovation doesn't make a difference. For whatever length of time that the execution is on point, and it's well-done like broiled chicken, that is the only thing that is important.

What's more, you'll battle to discover an anime like Kill La Kill with a solid English name. Incredible voice casters. Furthermore, an amusing however applicable discourse.

I've seen bounty named activity anime's and none of them approach Kill La Kill's quality.

16. Destiny Zero

I can't abandon saying Fate Zero on this rundown. An anime in the dream/activity kind.

Before watching Fate Zero I attempted Fate Stay Night. The anime arrangement is advantageous and really fair.

So I anticipated that Fate Zero would be similarly as great. Be that as it may, that was unimaginable on the grounds that Fate Zero blew my desires out of this world.

I appreciated the naming, voice throwing and discourse a lot more in Fate Zero.

Yet, the primary concern that improves Fate Zero such a great amount than Fate Stay Night, is the activity.

It's relatively similar to contrasting an anime like K-ON with something like Attack On Titan. AOT is too damn rough and K-ON is simply excessively adorable for either, making it impossible to be thought about.

So If you're searching for a dream English name, attempt Fate Zero. It's one of my top choices inside the dream/activity sort.

[somegirlsnerdywords2]

Anime i’ve Watched

That begin with a B Part 1!

Yep this is how i’m going to bring over all the anime and manga i’ve watched and posted about on the old blog. It’s not so detailed but it will have to do. Anything new I watch or read from this point on will have their own posts.

B-Project: Kodou*Ambitious:

Genres: music, shoujo

Synopsis:  The anime's story follows Tsubasa, a new hire in the A&R department of the major recording company Gandala Music. Tsubasa is immediately assigned to oversee the idol unit "B-PROJECT," which is made up of three idol groups: Kitakore, THRIVE, and MooNs. This is Tsubasa's first job, and she gets involved in various incidents and accidents as she deals with this group of young men who each have their own differing personalities. (Source: ANN)

My Rating: 3/10

Finished airing in 2016 with a total of 12 episodes. 

My Thoughts: Don’t waste your time. Plenty of attractive male leads and some clean art/ animation but that’s about all it has to offer.... yet somehow this got a second season.

Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu (Baka & Test - Summon the Beasts):

Genres: comedy, romance, school, superpower 

Synopsis:  Fumizuki Academy isn't a typical Japanese high school. This unique institution has implemented a new and innovative system to sort its students. At the end of their freshman year, students take a test that divides up the student body. The highest scorers are placed into A class, all the way down until F class, for the lowest of the low. Unfortunately for Akihisa Yoshii, his supposedly "great" intellect wasn't quite enough for such a test, and he's now stuck at the bottom of F class. Naturally, F class has the worst facilities: not only rotten tatami mats and broken tables, but also outdated equipment and worn out furniture. On the bright side, his friend Yuuji Sakamoto is in the same class, and to everyone's surprise, the genius girl Mizuki Himeji has also ended up in the same class due to an unforeseen fever on the day of the test. Unsatisfied with their perquisites, F class rallies behind Yuuji, determined to take on the higher-tiered classes in order to seize their perks by using the school's Examinations Summon Battle system. The participants can summon fantasy characters—whose power levels are equal to their student's test scores—in an all-out battle. Will F class be able to rise to the top, or will they live up to everyone's expectations and fail? [Written by MAL Rewrite]

My Rating: 7/10

Finished airing in 2010 with a total of 13 episodes.

My Thoughts: Cute characters and art design. Excellent comedy but ultimately an anime that didn’t manage to wow me. 

Ballroom e Youkoso (Welcome to the Ballroom):

Genres: comedy, drama, romance, school, shounen, sports

Synopsis:  Tatara Fujita is a shy middle schooler who has no particular plan for the future. He has gotten through life by avoiding any kind of confrontation and blending in with the crowd. But blending in isn't enough to get out of trouble, as some bullies harass him for money. Luckily, he is saved by a man named Kaname Sengoku. Kaname invites Tatara to his dance studio. Although he would normally never set foot in such a place, Tatara is captivated by Sengoku's commanding presence. Granted an opportunity to dance with fellow classmate Shizuku Hanaoka—who often practices at the studio—Tatara realizes there's something about the idea of being put in the limelight and dancing where people will see him that keeps him coming back. With an earnest, passionate drive to improve, Tatara begins his journey into the world of competitive dance. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

My Rating: 10/10

Finished airing in 2017 with a total of 24 episodes. 

My Thoughts: Who knew ballroom could be so exciting to see animated?! Now that is an anime that deserves all the love and more! The character design’s a bit jarring at first but you get used to it and it really does work quite well with the series and animation. Amazing theme music and wonderful characters. A must watch and one of my favourite (if not my favourite) from its year. Check it out! Now if only they’d give us a second season... 

Barakamon: 

Genres: comedy, slice of life

Synopsis: Seishuu Handa is an up-and-coming calligrapher: young, handsome, talented, and unfortunately, a narcissist to boot. When a veteran labels his award-winning piece as "unoriginal," Seishuu quickly loses his cool with severe repercussions. As punishment, and also in order to aid him in self-reflection, Seishuu's father exiles him to the Goto Islands, far from the comfortable Tokyo lifestyle the temperamental artist is used to. Now thrown into a rural setting, Seishuu must attempt to find new inspiration and develop his own unique art style—that is, if boisterous children (headed by the frisky Naru Kotoishi), fujoshi middle schoolers, and energetic old men stop barging into his house! The newest addition to the intimate and quirky Goto community only wants to get some work done, but the islands are far from the peaceful countryside he signed up for. Thanks to his wacky neighbors who are entirely incapable of minding their own business, the arrogant calligrapher learns so much more than he ever hoped to. [Written by MAL Rewrite]

My Rating: 9/10

Finished airing in 2014 with a total of 12 episodes. 

My Thoughts: Into stories about a loner turned reluctant parental figure to a rambunctious child or group of children that also has excellent situational comedy? This is the anime for you! A loveable cast of characters and a story that’s a joy from beginning to end. 

Bayonetta: Bloody Fate:

Genres: action, demons, fantasy, super power

Synopsis:  Driven to recover her memories after waking in a coffin at the bottom of a lake 20 years ago, Bayonetta hunts down the forces of Heaven day and night in search of clues to her forgotten past, and to uphold her pact with the demonic forces she draws her powers from as an Umbra Witch. She is armed and guided by the mysterious bartender and weapon-smith, Rodin, and following her every footstep is the intrepid journalist, Luka Redgrave, who believes that she has something to do with the death of his father and will stop at nothing to get the truth. Her quest takes a promising turn when she encounters a little girl named Cereza, but standing in her way is a rival Umbra Witch named Jeanne, who works for the very forces that she should be opposing. Bayonetta: Bloody Fate is an action-packed anime film that explores the connection between all of characters and works to unravel just how they are seemingly entwined in a conspiracy that eclipses them all.

My Rating: 5.5/10

A film released in 2013. 

My Thoughts: A beautiful woman in glasses should really be right up my alley but nope... I honestly can’t even remember what this was about so i’m just going to take a few points right off of my original score. If any fans have any words to say, or honestly if anyone has an opinion to share on this one send it my way! 

[meowsaidmayaanime]

Slice of Life Genres? Or Genres to 'tack' onto others?

I love slice of life anime. I really, really do. But recently, ever since starting this website and writing my personal thoughts on anime I've watched, I've come to notice that my preferred slice of life focuses more on realism, and tends omits other sub-genres.

Specifically for me a "real" slice of life would be an anime that contains these main things: - realistic characters - realistic situations - realistic events - realistic responses

As you can see I use the word realistic a lot, but when talking about an anime series I can't say whether something is a "real" slice of life. Because anything that follows the life of some one or some group IS a real slice of life. It was only until I read a small description of the genre pertaining to film on Wikipedia which describes it as "a naturalistic representation of real life", that it really hit me.

This type of slice of life would be more accurately named a "natural" slice of life. Where everything that happens, can and would happen in our current world we live in.

That being said, there are tons of other genres of slice of life, and since I couldn't find any official terms for the different 'styles' I decided to make the terms myself, and use them from now on. Of course you could argue that the different types of slice of life would be one with multiple genres, but I dis-agree. It's true that a drama-slice of life is vastly different from a comedy-slice of life, or a fantasy- slice of life. But what I am referring to here would be the slice of life itself, whether it is realistic, realistic but with some weird strange twist that doesn't exist in our natural world, unrealistic altogether, or is one that simply has no plot at all.

So here we go!

The Natural SoL (Slice of Life) Like I mentioned in my lengthy intro, this SoL is a naturalistic/realistic representation of real life. In which the world the SoL takes place in is our world. Meaning a world without time travel, magic, the supernatural, and so on.

This type features realistic characters, plots, situations, and responses to events. Some examples (that I would recommend) would be:

Free! Iwatobi Swim Club

Barakamon

Your Lie in April (a 'natural' drama)

K-On!

Toradora! ('natural' drama)

Working!!

Semi-Natural SoL

These are the anime that meet all the qualifications of a Natural SoL with the exception of something not common to our world or the world the anime takes place in. Such as a character who is a ghost, a human/bear hybrid, psychic abilities, ect, which are even unusual and largely unknown in their world. An anime that would be completely realistic in terms of our world if such things existed.

Such as: Flying Witch (where the main character is a witch but leads a relatively normal and very realistic life within the boundaries of her culture. The witch community is small and is unusual even in the anime)

Clannad (If you've watched it you know why)(drama)

Kumamiko (talking bear which is secret within the village)

Fruits Basket (people turning into animals again which is a secret and unusual in the anime) (also drama)

Kotoura-San (mind reading ability, which is unusual in the anime, and only one character has is)

Re:Life (becoming young again, unusual even in the anime and 98% unknown)(drama/school)

Exaggerated

This contains characters and situations that are exaggerated, or less realistic. These anime would still exist in our world, but some of the characters are unusual (such as being incredibly unlucky, or being a hyper masochist, or even a severe yandere), or some of this situations are unusual (like an incredibly difficult culinary school where only 10% of its students graduate). The exagerated natural SoL would also be one that encompass an unrealistic amount of ecchi, or an unnecessary harem (like anime based off dating sims). An anime that includes a lot of fan service would also be in this category. But the anime typically does not contain anything 'out of this world' such as a Semi-Natural or an Unrepresentative SoL.

Some examples would be: Ouran High School Host Club (there is no way any school would actually allow a host club to take place, NO WAY)

Food Wars! Shingeki no Soma (an unrealistic school, plus a character who for some reason is always wearing a bikini top EVEN THOUGH HER SPECIALTY IS COOKING MEAT, WHICH SPLATTERS AND WILL BURN HER COMPLETELY AND IS UNSAFE IN THE KITCHEN, BUT NOOOOO WE "NEEEED" THOSE BOOBS AT ALL TIMES. Put on a chef jacket, for the love of god, PLEASE)

Kaichou wa Maid Sama (working part time at a maid cafe is not what is unusual, but its the constant situations out side the maid cafe and outside school that are exagerated)

B Gata H Kei (the main characters goal is unusual, and with the exception of the outrageously rich character, it is other wise rather realistic.)

And You Thought There is Never a Girl Online (this is almost more fan service than it is slice of life...)

Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto (watch the first episode and you will understand why, it's kind of a plot-less anime too)

Plot-less SoL

There is a very big distinction, these are anime which have no over arching plot or story. anime that may have multiple un-related scenes in a single episode, or have episodes which are not made with the intention to develop or grow a character or explain a situation.

A very good example would be Lucky Star, which doesn't have a plot, but simply shows various events of a group of high school girls.

Or even Hetalia, a series which shows comedic aspects of personified countries as satire. Though I'm not sure if I would call it a slice of life...

Unrepresentative SoL So far this is the best term I could come up with, but it is referring to a SoL which takes place in a different world or universe. This is not to be confused with with a semi-natural anime which would take place in our universe if not for the unusual singular exception.

Such examples would be: Rosario Vampire (takes place in the 'demon' world)

Soul Eater Not! (takes place in a world where Death Scythes and all things related to it are the norm)

Shinsekai Yori (takes place in a world different from ours)

Of course these categories can be mixed and matched together to fit each anime. For example, while Shinsekai Yori does take place in a world different from ours, it still has realistic characters and all events which happen are realistic in relation to their universe, and things we would realistically do when put into those situations. Its a little hard to explain without revealing spoilers about this anime, but I would classify this as an Unrepresentative Natural SoL, if that is it was actually a slice of life, which it is not... its more of a drama than a Slice of Life...

Sigh, I feel like I need to make Natural its own category as an attachment genre that you 'stick' to other main genres. Actually come to think of it all of these types of SoL can also be types of other major genres... hmm. Yes, yes this is what I'll do. This post will be a list of sub-genre attachments through the example of Slice of Life anime.

Makes sense, right?

[hinatashoyyo]

heyyo hope you don't mind me asking but can you rec me some anime? like, what are your absolute favourites? which are the best you've seen this year? thanks in advance, friend 🙏

i’ve been so hyped to answer this!! sorry for the late response i’ve been working 12 1/2 hour shifts and i wanted to be able to give the response that I felt this question deserved. 

under a read more because it’s going to be a bit long 

I’m not sure what genres you prefer so I thought I’d split it into categories to make it easier to find things you’re interested in but a lot of these do cross genres so take it as you will ^_^ 

Romance (be still my shoujo beating heart): Toradora!, Yona of the Dawn, Snow White with the Red Hair, Chihayafuru, Your Name 

Action/Shounen: Boku no Hero Academia, Attack on Titan, Mob Psycho 100, Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood, Inuyasha, Durarara!! (i haven’t finished this yet), ReZero, Fate Zero, Erased

Romantic comedy/Comedy: Tanaka kun is always listless, My love story!!,Gekkan shoujo nozaki-kun, One punch man, Hetalia, Cromartie High School (I haven’t watched this yet but just looking at clips makes me laugh), lovely complex

Sports Anime: Diamond no ace, oofuri, haikyuu!!, yowamushi pedal, free! 

Horror: Higurashi when they cry

Drama: Showa genroku rakugo shinjuu, death parade, orange, a silent voice, your lie in april and clannad

Slice of Life: Sweetness and lightning, barakamon, Tsuitama, Mushi-shi

Studio Ghibli: Howl’s moving castle

My absolute favourites are: noragami, inuyasha, full metal alchemist brotherhood, clannad, chihayafuru, haikyuu!!, showa genroku rakugo shinjuu and free! (ask me another time and it’d be different probably) 

If by this year you mean anime that has actually been released this year that I’ve really liked/have been following it has been: showa genroku rakugo shinjuu, yowamushi pedal, boku no hero academia, your name, a silent voice and attack on titan. 

I’m also interested in watching at least a bit of Kado: the right answer, Sakura Quest and Acca 13 at some point 

the majority of them are available on crunchyroll or viewster or on dvd in the uk apart from your name, a silent voice, cromartie high school, lovely complex and inuyasha