Before anything else I would like to greet everyone here a Happy New Year! May this New Year be good to all of us and since 2018 was such a great year for anime I am at least hoping that it could keep the pace up if not be a better year overall though that may be asking for too much lol. Anyway I am still wrapping things up with my list and this time I have prepared a list of shows that are continuation of previous installation of the series, well that’s all for the introduction so let’s start this one now!
9. Toaru Majutsu no Index III (A Certain Magical Index III)
Genres: Action, Magic, Sci-Fi, Super Power
Studio: J.C.Staff
I was ecstatic when I first heard of the news that Index is finally getting a new season, after that they even announced that a third season for Railgun and another spin-off with Accelerator as the lead is underway as well, further filling me with anticipation, but maybe they announced too many that they forgot they are currently airing Index leading to a poorly animated season with a lot of boring fights and still images.
Regardless of that poor animation and incoherent story that jumps from arcs to arcs, I am still all in for the show because the setting still captivates me, the idea of pitting Science against Magic still remains as one of the most appealing match up for me to this day. Almost forgot about the indiscriminate punching machine that hits everyone without prejudice no matter the age, gender, race, social standing, religion, affiliation; the guy that practices equality no matter when and where - Kamijou Touma.
8. Overlord II & III
Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Game, Magic, Supernatural
Studio: Madhouse
Overlord is an isekai show that is unique in multiple ways, first off, the main character is a boner…in his entirety; second, unlike most shows in the genre the main character and his gang are in the OP level already the opposite of the newb starting point; third the main character and his gang are on the evil side and that is totally fine because it is quite the scene when these big bad guys turn every cocky adventurers and underground bigwigs into a bloody pulp in the most literal sense of those words.
There are some issues with the animation at times though but nothing to be able to fully affect the enjoyment of the series, there are also moments or arcs rather, that focuses on side characters that are not as entertaining as the main cast’s screen time but hey, it’s not that bad compared to getting filler episodes in my opinion.
7. Sword Art Online: Alicization
Genres: Action, Game, Adventure, Romance, Fantasy
Studio: A-1 Pictures
“Sword Art Online but better” is how most people from the community described this season so far but of course it still won’t get out of the hate cycle that easy because Kirito lol.
Well to be honest I am actually on the side that enjoyed Sword Art Online since the beginning as it served as one of my gateway series to the medium but I was surprised that this particular season is somewhat different or maybe this is what Sword Art Online should have been in the first place had it not tried to put Kirito into every girl in the series’ pant-asy, okay bad pun.
Sword Art Online: Alicization is shaping up to be a great fantasy story that will transcend its preceding seasons, plus the interesting premise of creating artificial souls maybe will lead to the day when your virtual waifu will finally be able to reciprocate your feelings, my condolences to humanity if ever that happens lol.
6. Shingeki no Kyojin Season 3 (Attack on Titan Season 3)
Genres: Action, Drama, Fantasy, Military, Mystery, Shounen, Super Power
Studio: Wit Studio
The popularity of Attack on Titan is undeniable that even non-anime fans have watched or have in the least heard of the series, it is always included in the most hyped series at the start of new anime season and this one of course is no exception though this one is a little bit different compared to the previous two seasons because it focused more on an internal power struggle among the humans living inside the wall instead of the usual titan slaying goodness and creepiness that we have come to love about the series.
Though the fight against titans has been put on hold, it doesn’t mean that the action part goes with it too because if Levi is there, then expect some crazy 3D maneuver gear action albeit being a death match between fellow human beings. This season also provided some answers that cleared up longstanding mysteries but the season was cut too short and its second half is set to air this 2019 so for more answers we either have to be patient and wait for that continuation or dive straight into the source material.
5. Nanatsu no Taizai: Imashime no Fukkatsu (The Seven Deadly Sins: Revival of the Commandments)
Genres: Action, Adventure, Supernatural, Magic, Fantasy, Shounen
Studio: A-1 Pictures
“Praise the sun!” that is this season in a nut shell because the introduction of Escanor is the most notable event that occurred this time, screw the introduction of the Ten Commandments, screw the rest of the cast’s useless moments, screw Meliodas’ death, this season is about Escanor splitting Galand into two and scaring the living hell out of the poor demon that he felt the urge to run for his life, this season is about Escanor’s soul being swallowed by Melascula turning her from hot to sizzling hot that she almost burned to a crisp, this season is about Escanor burning Estarossa and Zeldris while the rest of his teammates struggle against lesser demons, this season is about Escanor burning enemies not with his magic but with his savage remarks backed with his high and mighty attitude that the most superior demon race’s elite force looks like a bunch of clowns in front of this prideful yet charismatic man that stands atop all the characters introduced thus far, in the anime at least.
4. Full Metal Panic! Invisible Victory
Genres: Action, Mecha, Military
Studio: Xebec
It has been so long since the last season of Full Metal Panic! aired that the series may have already been forgotten by a lot resulting to this season being overlooked by many despite its first 3 episodes being better than the first 2 seasons of the series combined, not to badmouth the previous seasons but this one ramped up everything and the tension and action is on a totally new level that all the fighting done in the earlier seasons pale in comparison, though this season is still a far cry from Full Metal Panic? Fumoffu.
3. Shokugeki no Souma: San no Sara - Toutsuki Ressha-hen (Food Wars! The Third Plate: Totsuki Train Arc)
Genres: Ecchi, School, Shounen
Studio: J.C.Staff
The lovechild of cooking and shounen genre is still not losing its edge and this season started the greatest event in the series, the Regimental Shokugeki wherein the powerhouse characters are finally going to duke it out for real to determine the fate of the supporting characters that were defeated off screen lol. On one side we’ve got Souma and his rag tag team of first years and former elite ten members going up against the current elite ten members minus 2, though the outcome is predictable the delivery is still enough to build up the hype and excitement that the series has been loved and known for all this time. And if that is insufficient then it still has its final trump card – foodgasms! (And a lot of best grills).
2. Boku no Hero Academia 3rd Season
Genres: Action, Comedy, School, Shounen, Super Power
Studio: Bones
This season, without a doubt is the best one that Hero Academia has offered ever since it first aired… Naze tte? (Why?)
Watashi ga kita! (Because I’m here!)
Though that was supposed to be a joke I realized that it actually works for this season because that All Might vs All for One showdown is the highlight of the entire series so far and for me, marks the real start of Midoriya’s road to becoming the pirate ki- I mean the hoka- wait a minute I will just check what he is aiming for… I see, he is finally on the road to become the number one hero (One Punch Man season 2 is around the corner by the way)!
There is also that fight that builds up the characters ofMidoriya, but more specially that of Bakugo and that was nothing short of brilliant execution, if not for the climactic fight between the two most powerful characters in the franchise then it would have been the highlight of the season for sure.
1. Steins; Gate 0
Genres: Sci-Fi, Thriller
Studio: White Fox
Steins; Gate has been regarded as one of, if not the best anime series by a lot of people because of its well thought story about an overused trope - time travel. Sure, time travel makes both an interesting and romantic plot device in most works of art but sometimes it just become a gimmick that is being thrown around without further considerations about its implication not only to the events resulting from a change in decisions made by an individual that will cause a ripple effect affecting multitudes of lives but also to the effect of it to the welfare of the person travelling back in time especially when the fate of the world rests on the result of his actions and inaction.
The statement above is for the entirety of the series, let’s go more specific and talk about this sequel, Steins; Gate 0. This season is the same in most part with the previous installment with the exception that one of the main heroines is no longer in existence, though a virtual version of her compensates for it even by a little bit. Few other characters were introduced for the first time that became vital in the story but if there’s something that is sadder than the absence of the red haired scientist, that is the lack of too-too-roo/ tutturu or however that is spelled Hououin Kyouma aka Mad Scientist screen time.
Guess that’s it this time and if you are wondering why there’s no JoJo in the list, well that is because I haven’t seen an episode of JoJo yet, though I have a vague idea of what it is about through memes lol. I have it on my watch list though I don’t know when I would be able to watch it but till then I can’t make a recommendation. My next list would probably be up next week, same day and I am thinking of making a list of shows that I think I am one of the few that enjoyed this year or some underappreciated shows that I believe needs more recognition. Okay that’s all I have to say this time and see you again next week!
Ciao~