Now that the spring 2018 anime season has reached its end, it’s time for you binge-watchers to dive in. But 75+ new anime is a ton to sort through so to start you off, here are five that you shouldn’t miss out on.
Image source: 銀河英雄伝説DieNeueThese on Twitter
The Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Die Neue These
12 Episodes
Studio: Production I.G
Genre: Space Opera
Non-spoiler Plot Summary: In the far future, two forces war across the galaxy: the democratic Free Planets Alliance and the fascist Galactic Empire. For years, the war has been at a stalemate. Now, however, with the rise of Reinhard von Lohengramm that looks to change. But as he is on the edge of his first major victory for the Empire, he finds himself pitted against Yang Wen-li–a tactician of such striking brilliance, it may even rival his own.
Why You Should Watch It: The Legend of the Galactic Heroes is an endlessly complicated war story where neither side is truly evil and neither truly good. The Empire is more concerned with bloodlines and nobility than talent–so nepotism holds back advancement. However, on the Alliance side, the politicians are hopelessly corrupt, depending on the endless war to not only pad their coffers but keep them in power as well.
Yet, there are good people despite the broken systems–namely Reinhard, Wen-li, and the people they gather at their sides. In another era, either of the two could unite the galaxy and reform the government; but in this age, the two are destined to fight each other–even as those who should be their respective allies try to stab them in the back.
Watch It If You Like: Macross/Robotech, Space Battleship Yamato/Star Blazers, The Heroic Legend of Arslan
Where You Can Watch It: Crunchyroll, Funimation
Image source: メガロボクス公式&あしたのジョー50周年 on Twitter
MEGALOBOX
13 Episodes
Studio: TMS Entertainment
Genre: Sports, Cyberpunk
Non-spoiler Plot Summary: In the world of the future, the premier sport is “Megaloboxing.” With arms sporting a robotic exoskeleton, two opponents enter a boxing ring and punch it out until one is no longer able to stand.
In the slums surrounding an idyllic, clean, futuristic city, a nameless young man fights in fixed megaloboxing matches to survive. Even oppressed by a system that works to keep him down, he knows that he has the talent to be something greater. And after he is soundly defeated by the megaloboxing champion in an underground match, he decides to risk not only his life but that of his manager in an effort to meet the champion once more at the greatest stage of them all: “Megolomania.”
Why You Should Watch It: While centered around boxing, Megalobox is really a story about human drama. Each of the three main characters–”Joe” (the boxer), Nambu (his manager), and Sachio (his trainer)–are kept down by an unfair system. There is no way to live up to their talents, no way to escape the poverty-ridden world they’re stuck in–not legally, anyway. And, of course, doing it the illegal way comes with strings all its own.
This leads to a show where for every success, the trio faces a seemingly insurmountable failure–and every misstep is guaranteed to come back and haunt them sooner or later. In this way, the show expertly toys with your emotions–taking you from adulation to dread time and time again.
Watch It If You Like: Ashita no Joe, Rocky, Creed
Where You Can Watch It: Crunchyroll
Image source: 僕のヒーローアカデミア_アニメ公式 on Twitter
My Hero Academia (Season 3)
25 Episodes (currently at 14)
Studio: Bones
Genre: Superhero, Action
Non-spoiler Plot Summary: In a world where the majority of the population has superpowers, the world’s greatest superhero, All Might, has been crippled. After passing on his powers to Izuku–a formerly powerless young man with the soul of a true hero–All Might begins to train Izuku at the country’s premier superhero academy, UA High School.
The third season begins as Izuku’s first semester at UA comes to an end and the school’s summer training camp begins. Unfortunately, this camp is the perfect target for the newly assembled league of villains to accomplish their first major objective.
Why You Should Watch It: My Hero Academia is not only an entertaining superhero adventure but also an in-depth thought experiment about the positives and negatives of a superhuman society.
Season 3 spends much of its time focusing on what it means to be a hero–versus being a vigilante or a villain. To do this, our young heroes are put in positions time and again where they must choose between following the law or helping those in need. After all, to replace All Might as the incorruptible hero, Izuku needs to learn how to do both at once.
Watch It If You Like: Naruto, One-Punch Man
Where You Can Watch It: Crunchyroll, Funimation (dub)
Image source: TVアニメ「SAO オルタナティブ ガンゲイル・オンライン」公式 on Twitter
Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online
13 Episodes
Studio: 3Hz
Genre: Online Game, Death Game
Non-spoiler Plot Summary: Karen is a college student, socially isolated because of her height complex. All her life she has wanted to be short and cute (i.e., “normal”), so she begins trying out various VR MMORPGs searching for the virtual perfect body. She finds it in the dystopian shooting game, Gun Gale Online. Spending all of her free time in the game, she is the happiest she has ever been.
One day her friend Pitohui convinces her to enter the Squad Jam: a player versus player team battle royal. But little does she know that not everything is as it seems for she has unwittingly become engulfed in the shadow of the infamous death game, Sword Art Online.
Why You Should Watch It: Returning to the world of guns and bullets from Sword Art Online II’s “Phantom Bullet” arc, Gun Gale Online is a gun maniac’s dreamworld: People fight, shoot, and use various clever tactics. It’s an exciting VR world and one that’s fun to play around in.
But beneath that, it is a story of accepting who you are–and more than that, understanding what you can become. What begins as a simple, fun, video game adventure becomes something both personal and dangerous as Karen pushes herself to the limit to stop something terrible from happening.
Watch It If You Like: Sword Art Online II, Kino’s Journey
Where You Can Watch It: Crunchyroll, Hulu, AnimeLab (AU/NZ)
Image source: アニプレックス on YouTube
Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku
11 Episodes
Studio: A-1 Pictures
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Non-spoiler Plot Summary: Momosei is a cute, attractive office worker with a bright personality. However, she harbors a dark secret that she tries to hide from everyone–especially her boyfriends: She is actually an otaku.
Switching companies after her secret gets out, she finds that one of her new co-workers is actually her childhood friend (and gamer otaku) Nifuji. While complaining to him about how hard it is to date and keep her secret, Nifuji suggests she try dating someone who already knows her secret and has no issue with it–namely, him. And, much to her own surprise, she agrees to try it out.
Why You Should Watch It: What makes Wotakoi stand out from most romance stories is that it’s actually about the relationship, instead of “will they/won’t they get together.” The two are longtime friends and genuinely care for each other, but neither is quite sure how to go from friendship to romance.
Moreover, both have obsessive hobbies that consume much of their time and passion so their relationship is far from what stereotypical romance is “supposed to be.” Thus it’s a story about making your own decisions about what love is and accepting that–though that’s not saying you don’t have to put effort into the relationship.
Watch It If You Like: My Love Story!!
Where You Can Watch It: Amazon Prime Video
Top Image Source: TVアニメ「SAO オルタナティブ ガンゲイル・オンライン」公式 on Twitter.
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