This spring season is looking to be a damned strong one anime-wise—especially when it comes to the “isekai” genre. Read on to see which shows I am most excited for.
Image source: TVアニメ『86―エイティシックス―』【公式】 on Twitter
86 – Eighty-Six
Genre: Sci-Fi, War Story
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Premiere date: April 11, 2021
What it’s about: The conflict between the republic and its neighboring empire continues on as each side deploys a constant stream of remote control drones in a never-ending, yet bloodless, war—or that’s how the government PR spins it, anyway. In reality, while the empire has drone technology, the republic does not. Each republic “drone” secretly has its own “disposable” human pilot riding inside—a pilot of a persecuted ethnic minority.
Why I’m excited: For this one, all my anticipation comes from word of mouth. Everyone I know who has read the original books has loved them–and for the most part, the net agrees with them. The entire concept sounds like the kind of moral and ethical exploration that Sci-Fi stories thrive on and I’m interested in seeing the layers of this fictional world peeled away one by one.
Watch it if you like: Code Geass: Akito the Exiled, Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans
Where to watch: TBA
Image source: TVアニメ『戦闘員、派遣します！』公式 on Twitter
Combatants Will Be Dispatched!
Genre: Transported to a fantasy world
Studio: J.C.Staff
Premiere date: April 4, 2021
What it’s about: Having all but taken over our world, the evil organization “Secret Society Kisaragi” sets their sights on a parallel world filled with knights and magic. To establish their beachhead, they dispatch Combat Agent Six and his new partner, the android Alice. While the pair doesn’t have magic, they do have two advantages: 1) the ability to summon weapons from our world and 2) a total lack of morals. And honestly, that may prove to be more than enough to conquer this typical fantasy world.
Why I’m excited: If it’s anything like the manga, this series will be hilarious—which is as to be expected from the author of Konosuba. Much of the humor is based around gaining the currency used to summon items from our world: “atrocity points.” These are gained by doing things befitting a member of an evil organization—be that taking hostages to get what they want or sneaking butt naked into a girl’s room to watch her while she sleeps. This gets even more comical when the pair gain their own set of off-the-wall companions and find themselves in the middle of a war between humans and demonkind. Of course, if there’s one thing Secret Society Kisaragi can’t stand, it’s another evil organization on their turf.
Watch it if you like: KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on this Wonderful World!, Power Rangers, Kamen Rider
Where to watch: Funimation, AnimeLab (AU/NZ), Wakanim (EU)
Image source: 「異世界魔王と召喚少女の奴隷魔術Ω」TVアニメ公式 on Twitter
How Not to Summon a Demon Lord Ω
Genre: Reincarnated in a fantasy world
Studio: Tezuka Productions
Premiere date: April 8, 2021
What it’s about: A shut-in otaku is transported to a fantasy world in the body of his online game avatar: Demon King Diablos. However, due to his crippling social anxiety, he is unable to interact with others unless he roleplays as Diablos—i.e., an arrogant tyrant. Of course, when you have the ability to back it up, such arrogance can push even a demon lord to become a hero.
Why I’m excited: This arc of How Not to Summon a Demon Lord ads new characters to Diablo’s crew, has them travel to new locations, battle against forces that strength alone can’t hope to overcome, and reveals secrets about this world that redefine its nature and Diablo’s place within it. Or to put it another way: more fun comedy adventure!
Watch it if you like: How Not to Summon a Demon Lord, Overlord, Superman
Where to watch: Crunchyroll
Image source: 『NOMAD メガロボクス２』公式 on Twitter
Nomad: Megalo Box 2
Genre: Sports, Cyberpunk
Studio: TMS Entertainment
Premiere date: April 4, 2021
What it’s about: Once with the help of his friends, a man named “Gearless” Joe drug himself up from the slums to win the first ever Megalomainia championship. But seven years later, he fights alone in underground matches—addicted to pills, using an exosuit, and going under the name “Nomad.”
Why I’m excited: Not only was the original Megalo Box one of the best anime of 2018, it was also an amazing reimagining of one of the all-time great sports anime, Ashita no Joe. It updated the story for a new generation while exploring the themes of classism and gentrification. Nomad would be a must watch on my list just for its pedigree alone but when you add on top of all that a compelling mystery about Joe’s fall from grace, I’m simply frothing at the mouth for it.
Watch it if you like: Megalo Box, Ashita no Joe, Boxing, MMA
Where to watch: Funimation, AnimeLab (AU/NZ), Wakanim (EU)
Image source: TVアニメ「聖女の魔力は万能です」公式アカウント on Twitter
The Saint’s Magic Power Is Omnipotent
Genre: Transported to a fantasy world
Studio: Diomedéa
Premiere date: April 6, 2021
What it’s about: One day, Sei, your average twenty-something woman, is pulled into a fantasy world alongside a younger girl. The younger girl is immediately hailed as the new Saint and is whisked away by the prince, leaving Sei to manage on her own. However, as the days go by and Sei settles into her new life, it doesn’t take those who befriend her long to realize that the prince might have been a bit hasty in his proclamations.
Why I’m excited: Rather than being a show about a hero from another world appearing to smash all the enemies that appear before her, this story is more about a person adjusting to life in another world and finding their true place in it. That said, while it is pretty low key, it does have its fair share of fights—along with more than a few dashing leads far more eager to woo Sei than they care to admit. In tone, it’s a fantastic change of pace from other similar shows and you can’t go wrong with a non-teenage female protagonist.
Watch it if you like: My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!, The Vision of Escaflowne
Where to watch: Funimation, AnimeLab (AU/NZ), Wakanim (EU)
Top image source: 『プリンセス・プリンシパル』公式 on Twitter.
Be First to Comment