It may be April Fools, but you know what’s not a lie? The new anime season is here and with 47 new series airing, you might be a bit unsure where to start. And while I can’t make any promises on final quality, I can certainly share with you the series I am most excited to watch.
Image source: TVアニメ『Fairy gone フェアリーゴーン』 on Twitter
Fairy Gone
Genre: 20th Century War Fantasy
Studio: P.A. Works
Premiere date: April 8, 2019
What it’s about: In the last war, soldiers were merged with fairies, giving them supernatural powers and turning them into living weapons. But now, the war is over and many of these soldiers have been unable to readjust to a normal life. And when these former soldiers turn violent, it is up to the members of “Dorothea” to take them down.
Why I’m excited: While mixing early-to-mid 20th century wars with magic isn’t exactly a new idea at this point when it comes to anime, Fairy Gone puts its own twist on the concept by focusing on what happens after the war ends. Even in our non-magical, real-world wars, it can be difficult, if not downright impossible, for soldiers to re-acclimate to civilian life after the war is done. Now add to that the idea of genetic manipulation and actual superpowers and you have a generation of former-soldiers who are also living weapons, searching for their place in the world. It sounds like a great backdrop for many kinds of captivating stories.
Watch it if you like: ACCA: 13-Territory Inspection Dept., The Saga of Tanya the Evil, Izetta: The Last Witch
Where to watch: Funimation, Hulu, Wakanim (EU)
Image source: 『異世界かるてっと』公式 on Twitter
Isekai Quartet
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy
Studio: Studio PuYUKAI
Premiere date: April 10, 2019
What it’s about: Overlord, Re:Zero, Konosuba, and The Saga of Tanya the Evil are all series with the same narrative hook: the protagonist is a normal person from our world pulled into a fantastical one full of magic. And now, when these four worlds collide, comedy is guaranteed to ensue.
Why I’m excited: While all three of these stories have the same set up, they are full of differences. Three of them are serious while one is 100% comedy. Three of them are traditional fantasy worlds while one is set in a magic-filled World War I. Then when it comes to the protagonists, two are downright evil while the other two are basically good people (though with major faults). It is in these differences that the comedy lies. What happens if Tanya teams up with the equally ruthless monsters of the Tomb of Nazarick? What happens if you put Aqua in the gritty Re:Zero world? What if any of the fantasy worlds get guns? The hilarity writes itself.
Watch it if you like: Overlord, Re:Zero, Konosuba, The Saga of Tanya the Evil
Where to watch: Funimation, Aniplus (Asia)
Image source: 【公式】TVアニメ「MIX」 on Twitter
Mix: Meisei Story
Genre: Sports, Romance
Studio: OLM
Premiere date: April 6, 2019
What it’s about: In the 1990s, a beautiful–yet tragic–love story took place at Meisei High School as twin brothers fought for the love of one woman as they strove toward the National Baseball Championships. Now, three decades later, a new love story centered around Meisei’s baseball team is about to begin.
Why I’m excited: Though largely unknown in the US, the works of Mitsuru Adachi are a cultural cornerstone in Japan–especially Touch (which Mix is a pseudo-sequel to). With stories that are equal parts high school romance and sports, Adachi speaks to a universal Japanese experience and highlights the drama of everyday teenage life. But what sets him apart from other authors is his ability to buck the trends so common in romance manga–to take what appears to be a typical “will they, won’t they” narrative and turn it into a coming-of-age story with deep insight into the unexpected possibilities of life and the emotional complexity that makes up the human experience.
Watch it if you like: Touch, H2, Cross Game
Where to watch: Funimation
Image source: 「ULTRAMAN」2019.4.1世界同時配信決定！【漫画＆アニメ公式】 on Twitter
Ultraman
Genre: Japanese Superhero, Sci-fi
Studio: Production I.G
Premiere date: April 1, 2019
What it’s about: Many years after the original Ultraman battled against alien invaders, a new threat arises and the son of Ultraman’s original host must take up his father’s mantle and fight this new enemy. But he won’t be alone in this battle for the fate of humanity–because as he’s about to discover, he is far from the only Ultraman.
Why I’m excited: I’d say that on the sliding scale of things, I know more about Ultraman than the vast majority of Western anime fans. Unfortunately, that amounts to me knowing the basic concept, some of the classic monsters and heroes, and little beyond that. That’s why I’m looking forward to Netflix’s Ultraman. Updated for the modern era, it’s specifically designed for people who know little to nothing about the classic Japanese superhero and reintroduces some of the most famous heroes and villains from across the show’s 50+ year history in a brand new story.
Watch it if you like: SSSS.Gridman, Kamen Rider, Power Rangers
Where to watch: Netflix
Image source: アニメ『この世の果てで恋を唄う少女YU-NO』公式 on Twitter
YU-NO: A Girl Who Chants Love at the Bound of this World
Genre: Sci-fi, Parallel Worlds
Studio: feel.
Episodes: 26
Premiere date: April 2, 2019
What it’s about: After receiving a package from his missing father, a young man learns of the existence of parallel worlds and begins to travel between them. As he does he encounters a mysterious girl, the titular Yu-no, and begins to uncover exactly what happened to his father.
Why I’m excited: This anime is based on one of the OG breakout hits when it comes to visual novels. Without this game to serve as a foundation for all that was to come, we likely wouldn’t have visual novel-turned-anime mega-hits like Fate/stay night or Steins;Gate–at least not in the forms that we currently have them. But for all its importance in visual novel history, it is one that I have yet to play–so I can’t help but eagerly await my introduction into this parallel world-sliding adventure.
Watch it if you like: Steins;Gate, Sagrada Reset
Where to watch: Crunchyroll, Funimation
Top image source: TVアニメ『Fairy gone フェアリーゴーン』 on Twitter
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