Since the season is virtually over and a new batch of shows are about to start, I think it is proper to make a list of shows that some of you might have overlooked because of the sheer amount of titles that aired during the Spring 2018 Anime season. So without further ado, allow me to present the shows that I thoroughly enjoyed, the rest is up to you. Enjoy!
Note: This is not a top anime list, so they are not listed according to rank. Another thing, this is going to be the first part on my list and will include shows that only aired during the season. I will make a separate post about shows that are either continued from last season or a new season of a show that aired some time ago.
1. Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online
Genres: Action, Fantasy, Game, Military, Sci-Fi
Oh crap! It is the show with the OP guy dual wielding swords while getting all the girls. Dropped! Haha Joke's on you, because our beloved Kirito didn't make an appearance here so there is nothing for you to hate. In fact this is from a different author that got permission to use the settings of the world of SAO, specifically GGO.
Now let's drop the hate and look at this with a clean slate. We have our protagonist, Karen Kohiruimaki, who has a complex about her height (she is very tall by the standard in their community). So in desperation, she was introduced to the world of virtual reality which as we all know, allows people to be whatever they want to be, ahem boys playing as cute anime girls with cat ears ahem, going back to the story she successfully generated her desired look in the world of GGO. Look below for reference.
Eventually she met Pitohui that induced her into joining a battle royale called Squad Jam ( yeah even in this show battle royale is a trend) along with M-san and they magically beat elite opponents one after the other. Okay that's it, I'm dropping this! Well I won't stop you from leaving since there really are a lot of things to be desired from this show but as I have mentioned earlier, this is a list of the shows that I enjoyed, but if you still want to go onward then proceed to the next paragraph.
Congratulations! You made it past my ramblings. Now let's talk about the positive aspect of the show, first off we don't have Kirito and the gang, so if you are one of those who hate SAO because of the guy then you've got yourself a SAO minus Kirito, congrats! But, seriously I personally like the original SAO so you can go ahead and judge my taste now. Done? Ok let me resume, second is the action with guns baby! This the reason why I am watching this show and they did a good job at handling those scenes. The strategy aspect and the thrilling fights allowed me to enjoy it despite being riddled with bullets flaws.
As for the characters, I can't think of anything except for some of them bordering near the nutcase territory. The good thing is, they added Karen's best friend Shinohara Miyu which saved this department for me. She is a quirky and lively person that never failed to entertain ever since she joined the limelight.
The animation is above par to say the least. Made by Studio 3Hz that also made Flip Flappers, Princess Principal and Dimension W you know that it is in good hands. And as a bonus the opening song is lit, sung by Eir Aoi that just came out of her hiatus so give that song a try.
2. Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii (Love is Hard for Otaku)
Genres: Comedy, Romance
One of the most anticipated shows of the season so there is a low chance that this was overlooked, but in the slight chance that you did then allow me to walk you through my brethren.
The show revolves around a group of office workers as they live their life as working adults, going for a drink after a hard day at work, dealing with their relationship problems and other things that happens when you are already part of the working class. Everything is normal to that point, but of course there is a twist - they are all Otakus (Thanks Sherlock), so things are not normal as what they should be.
Now that we've got the premise down, let's talk about the characters and their relationships. We have four characters that take most of the screen time so let's limit this part to them. First is the lead couple and childhood friends, Narumi Momose, a fujoshi that is keen on hiding her otaku nature to protect her social image and Hirotaka Nifuji, a gamer otaku that always play whenever he can and doesn't care about other people's input about him and his hobby. They have a completely opposite way of approaching their otaku side but hey, opposites attract right? Well setting that aside, as I said earlier they are childhood friends but they haven't seen each other for years. That is where their romance stems from, reminiscing their time together when they were young gives off a fuzzy feeling and cute moments, while the scenes when they are bridging the gap of the times that they were apart is sweet and beautiful
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Now let's move to the second pair, Hanako Koyanagi and Tarō Kabakura. Hanako is a famous cosplayer that loves Yaoi and other BL stuff while Taro is a low-key otaku that is a fan of bishojo and was even seen reading Yuru Yuri and was happy receiving a figure of one of the characters from the series. Like the previous couple, they also go way back, they were both captains of their respective volleyball teams during high school. They are a bit of an awkward couple that always argue when with other people but are very much of a normal couple when they are alone. Their subtle show of affection towards each other are cute that is a contrast to their usual aggressive spites.
So as to why I am recommending the series, well first and foremost I am a sucker for rom-com and slice of life shows so just keep that in mind, and this is a rom-com and a good one at that. Unlike the usual series we have under the category, we have a different environment compared to the usual school romance involving a lot of drama and tension. This has a lighter tone and is more of a feel good show that will give you occasional giggles, sweetness and maybe slap you with the reality that you are alone lol. And their interactions as otakus is truly entertaining that hits me in a personal level but despite this they showed that it is fine to be an otaku and that you don't need to cast aside your own entertainment as long as you can draw the line and function as decent human being in the society.
3. Megalo Box
Genres: Action, Drama, Sci-Fi, Shounen, Slice of Life, Sports
Kakatte koi yo~
Kakatte koi yo~
Kakatte koi yo~
Sorry my mind got stuck with the end song. Let me properly start this again, * Ahem * Kakatt-, I mean Megalo Box is a blast from the past, being the commemorative project for Ashita no Joe's 50th anniversary, the aesthetics of an old school anime is perfectly captured that I can't help but reminisce about the first few shows I've seen when I was a kid. It is a brave attempt from the studio to use this kind of style since modern anime fans would have difficulty adjusting to it, but I am glad that TMS Entertainment took that gamble and gave us this modern piece of art.
Now for the story, we have Junk Dog, a guy that participates in underground bouts of megalo box, a futuristic type of boxing where things called Gears are attached to the participants enhancing both the power and speed of their punch. He is usually instructed to throw fights to benefit the organization that has a hold on him and his partner, Gansaku Nanbu. However things changed when Yuuri, the strongest megalo boxer entered his ring and crushed him completely, leaving a challenge to him to claw his way up and return the favor, but things aren't going to be easy for an unnamed man and unregistered citizen to reach the top spot and enter Megalonia - the tournament that will determine who the best megalo boxer is. Thus with the backing of the organization, he acquired the name Joe and his story to reach the top unfolds!
The story of an underdog rising to the top is by no means a new concept but I think most people wouldn't object when I say that despite it being overused, we just can't help but love and get hyped in this kind of shows, thinking on how the protagonist is going to pull through difficult situations and turn the tables on the opposing side is something that won't get old as long as the execution is done right.
Another point where Megalo Box excels at is their characters. Each one has their own desires and difficulties, making it easier to relate and understand where each of them are coming from. We have a guy that wants to prove his self and be in control of his own destiny, a guy that has sink too deep that he can no longer ask for redemption, a kid that wants to get back at the people who caused his misfortune, a guy that is seeking a fight that he can thoroughly enjoy, a guy that is getting into terms with his past. These characters' story left a lasting impact despite the length the show has afforded, and I personally liked the development with Nanbu, from being the most annoying spineless character to one of the most audacious.
In addition to that, the show's animation is pretty solid and the soundtrack leaves nothing to be desired of. Truly one of the best this season and I would highly recommend it for seasons to come.
Thanks for reading and if you are interested, you can also check out my other recommendations for Spring 2018 season:
Hinamatsuri
Uma Musume: Pretty Derby
Comic Girls
Then again, as I said earlier I would make separate posts for the longer running series and maybe another one like this to complete this one. See you again next time!
Ciao~