An Archdemon’s Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride
Enjoyed this overall. One of several new shows that exceeded my initial expectations. It got a bit stale about midway through with just the two main characters, but additions in the second part helped flesh it out. One of a few shows I really hope to see more of. It felt like it was just getting started by the end. 4/5
A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics
This one was fun. Reminds me a lot of Hinamatsuri (although clearly different and not quite as good.) 4/5
As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I’ll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World
Yet another show that exceeded expectations. The basic premise seems kind of lame, in that the protagonist doesn’t really do anything directly, and looks/acts/is a child for duration of the season… But somehow it works. The cast is fun and have good character dynamics, the meta story seems meaningful and there is slow but real progress, and a few episodes were quite meaningful. 4/5
The Banished Former Hero Lives as He Pleases
I completely forgot this one existed until making this list. Dropped it early. Seemed ok at first but didn’t really do anything to keep my interest. 2/5
Chillin’ in Another World with Level 2 Super Cheat Powers
Eh. I want to like this one but the characters and humor didn’t land for me. 3/5
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc
I’ve enjoyed the story and the world and of course Ufotable elevates the whole thing. Not a major mover of the plot or meaningful fights, but I assume that is coming soon enough… 4/5
I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince So I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability
Dropped after the first episode and I regret going that far. Something about the weird sexualization combined with the rest of the show was just intolerably creepy to me. 1/5
KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! 3
To be honest I feel like both main arcs went just a little too long, but KonoSuba is always fun. 4/5
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2
The show is well done, the story is complex and rich. Some episodes and plot lines are best in season, but I can never shake the feeling that it will suddenly veer off into gross and or controversial territory. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to give it 5/5. so 4/5.
Mysterious Disappearances
Probably my second favorite new show of the season. The fan service bits can be a bit much at times, but that sort of thing does tend to go well with horror… The short story arcs, meta plot, characters, way new characters become relevant later, etc. all worked for me. 4/5
The New Gate
I like the characters more than level 2 cheat and there seems to be more happening. But so far no real meta plot and no real reason to keep watching other than inertia. 3/5
Re:Monster
Some bits early on were concerning… but overall I’ve enjoyed how different it is from other shows. The monster angle, consistent (and quick) pacing, seeing all the evolutions, base buildup, etc. Not a sophisticated show, but unique enough. 3/5
Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf
I never did see the original, but I knew this one was very hyped up, and I see it. The characters have awesome chemistry. The world and stories are great as is the production value. It is just so oppressively melancholy, especially the last two story lines. 4/5
Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included
This one was fun. Similar to a lot of other shows, but the humor did land for me. 4/5
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 3
Sigh, I was very much looking forward to this only for half the season to be a table read of PowerPoint slides half of which were quickly dealt with once the show actually started going. Sort of feels like they either planned a two disc Blu-ray set where no one watches the first disc or were desperate to save money. The last episode was similar in content, but so, so much better. Instead of the cast literally sitting at a table barely moving, we had smaller meetings with the characters actually moving and reacting to each other. 3/5
Train to the End of the World
Wow, just wow. The characters, production, pacing, plots, metastory, theme music… everything was exceptional. The show became absolutely insane at times and yet still made sense in a bizarre way and never really lost itself. Easily my favorite of the season and possibly the year. 5/5
Tsukimichi -Moonlit Fantasy- Season 2
Sigh x2, Season one was a great surprise when it aired and I really enjoyed rewatching it earlier this year. The first part of this cour wasn’t too bad either, but something went wrong with the second part this season. The story pacing turned to trash, and what in theory should have been climactic moments for the whole school/teacher arc fell flat in part because the main cast spent entire episodes standing around looking bored while the world was on fire. 3/5
Unnamed Memory
This show really felt like it should have been good. The setting, mood, and initial impression of the characters was all fine, but no as it progressed, the way they acted was just maddening. I dropped it early, checked comments off and on and from what I read it never got better. 2/5
Vampire Dormitory
A trainwreck, in the sense that I can tell the show is not good, but something about it keeps drawing my attention anyway. 2/5
[edit]
Binged both Kaiju No. 8 and Jellyfish Can’t Swin in the Night
Kaiju No. 8
Really enjoyed this one. Sort of a cross between chainsaw man and fireforce, but not quite. Oddly wholesome at times. Nice to have a main character who is a kind hearted, supportive adult for once. 4/5+ (could revise to 5/5 depending on how the series progresses…)
Jellyfish Can’t Swin in the Night
I was wrong. This is my favorite anime for the season. Great characters, chemistry, development, etc. well animated. everything a good show needs. And, I like that it was not a typical girl band story but each character brought something differently artistically to the group (composition, illustration, singing/lyrics, animation, etc.) 5/5
An Archdemon’s Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride Enjoyed this overall. One of several new shows that exceeded my initial expectations. It got a bit stale about midway through with just the two main characters, but additions in the second part helped flesh it out. One of a few shows I really hope to see more of. It felt like it was just getting started by the end. 4/5
A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics This one was fun. Reminds me a lot of Hinamatsuri (although clearly different and not quite as good.) 4/5
As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I’ll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World Yet another show that exceeded expectations. The basic premise seems kind of lame, in that the protagonist doesn’t really do anything directly, and looks/acts/is a child for duration of the season… But somehow it works. The cast is fun and have good character dynamics, the meta story seems meaningful and there is slow but real progress, and a few episodes were quite meaningful. 4/5
The Banished Former Hero Lives as He Pleases I completely forgot this one existed until making this list. Dropped it early. Seemed ok at first but didn’t really do anything to keep my interest. 2/5
Chillin’ in Another World with Level 2 Super Cheat Powers Eh. I want to like this one but the characters and humor didn’t land for me. 3/5
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Hashira Training Arc I’ve enjoyed the story and the world and of course Ufotable elevates the whole thing. Not a major mover of the plot or meaningful fights, but I assume that is coming soon enough… 4/5
I Was Reincarnated as the 7th Prince So I Can Take My Time Perfecting My Magical Ability Dropped after the first episode and I regret going that far. Something about the weird sexualization combined with the rest of the show was just intolerably creepy to me. 1/5
KonoSuba: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! 3 To be honest I feel like both main arcs went just a little too long, but KonoSuba is always fun. 4/5
Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation Season 2 Part 2 The show is well done, the story is complex and rich. Some episodes and plot lines are best in season, but I can never shake the feeling that it will suddenly veer off into gross and or controversial territory. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to give it 5/5. so 4/5.
Mysterious Disappearances Probably my second favorite new show of the season. The fan service bits can be a bit much at times, but that sort of thing does tend to go well with horror… The short story arcs, meta plot, characters, way new characters become relevant later, etc. all worked for me. 4/5
The New Gate I like the characters more than level 2 cheat and there seems to be more happening. But so far no real meta plot and no real reason to keep watching other than inertia. 3/5
Re:Monster Some bits early on were concerning… but overall I’ve enjoyed how different it is from other shows. The monster angle, consistent (and quick) pacing, seeing all the evolutions, base buildup, etc. Not a sophisticated show, but unique enough. 3/5
Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets the Wise Wolf I never did see the original, but I knew this one was very hyped up, and I see it. The characters have awesome chemistry. The world and stories are great as is the production value. It is just so oppressively melancholy, especially the last two story lines. 4/5
Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included This one was fun. Similar to a lot of other shows, but the humor did land for me. 4/5
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 3 Sigh, I was very much looking forward to this only for half the season to be a table read of PowerPoint slides half of which were quickly dealt with once the show actually started going. Sort of feels like they either planned a two disc Blu-ray set where no one watches the first disc or were desperate to save money. The last episode was similar in content, but so, so much better. Instead of the cast literally sitting at a table barely moving, we had smaller meetings with the characters actually moving and reacting to each other. 3/5
Train to the End of the World Wow, just wow. The characters, production, pacing, plots, metastory, theme music… everything was exceptional. The show became absolutely insane at times and yet still made sense in a bizarre way and never really lost itself. Easily my favorite of the season and possibly the year. 5/5
Tsukimichi -Moonlit Fantasy- Season 2 Sigh x2, Season one was a great surprise when it aired and I really enjoyed rewatching it earlier this year. The first part of this cour wasn’t too bad either, but something went wrong with the second part this season. The story pacing turned to trash, and what in theory should have been climactic moments for the whole school/teacher arc fell flat in part because the main cast spent entire episodes standing around looking bored while the world was on fire. 3/5
Unnamed Memory This show really felt like it should have been good. The setting, mood, and initial impression of the characters was all fine, but no as it progressed, the way they acted was just maddening. I dropped it early, checked comments off and on and from what I read it never got better. 2/5
Vampire Dormitory A trainwreck, in the sense that I can tell the show is not good, but something about it keeps drawing my attention anyway. 2/5
[edit]
Binged both Kaiju No. 8 and Jellyfish Can’t Swin in the Night
Kaiju No. 8 Really enjoyed this one. Sort of a cross between chainsaw man and fireforce, but not quite. Oddly wholesome at times. Nice to have a main character who is a kind hearted, supportive adult for once. 4/5+ (could revise to 5/5 depending on how the series progresses…)
Jellyfish Can’t Swin in the Night I was wrong. This is my favorite anime for the season. Great characters, chemistry, development, etc. well animated. everything a good show needs. And, I like that it was not a typical girl band story but each character brought something differently artistically to the group (composition, illustration, singing/lyrics, animation, etc.) 5/5