Anime of the Year 2016-II Spring - Koutetsujou no Kabaneri

Koutetsujou no Kabaneri with all its flaws is the only worthy anime this season in my opinion.

1. Boku no Hero Academia My Hero Academia 僕のヒーローアカデミア [Bones] (Finished 3/13) Tags: Shounen School, Super Power Action The appearance of "quirks," newly discovered super powers, has been steadily increasing over the years, with 80 percent of humanity possessing various abilities from manipulation of elements to shapeshifting. This leaves the remainder of the world completely powerless, and Izuku Midoriya is one such individual. Since he was a child, the ambitious middle schooler has wanted nothing more than to be a hero. Izuku's unfair fate leaves him admiring heroes and taking notes on them whenever he can. But it seems that his persistence has borne some fruit: Izuku meets the number one hero and his personal idol, All Might. All Might's quirk is a unique ability that can be inherited, and he has chosen Izuku to be his successor! Enduring many months of grueling training, Izuku enrolls in UA High, a prestigious high school famous for its excellent hero training program, and this year's freshmen look especially promising. With his bizarre but talented classmates and the looming threat of a villainous organization, Izuku will soon learn what it really means to be a hero. Tried it, but it's a typical shounen, and there are better representatives even among shounens.   Overall Rating: 6/10

2. Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Re：ゼロから始める異世界生活  [White Fox] (Finished 5/25) Tags: Isekai, Psychological, Time Travel Drama, Fantasy, Suspense When Subaru Natsuki leaves the convenience store, the last thing he expects is to be wrenched from his everyday life and dropped into a fantasy world. Things are not looking good for the bewildered teenager; however, not long after his arrival, he is attacked by some thugs. Armed with only a bag of groceries and a now useless cell phone, he is quickly beaten to a pulp. Fortunately, a mysterious beauty named Satella, in hot pursuit after the one who stole her insignia, happens upon Subaru and saves him. In order to thank the honest and kindhearted girl, Subaru offers to help in her search, and later that night, he even finds the whereabouts of that which she seeks. But unbeknownst to them, a much darker force stalks the pair from the shadows, and just minutes after locating the insignia, Subaru and Satella are brutally murdered. However, Subaru immediately reawakens to a familiar scene—confronted by the same group of thugs, meeting Satella all over again—the enigma deepens as history inexplicably repeats itself. I'm shocked to see how this time loop fantasy shounen came to be second most popular this season. Protagonist is not bad, but definitely not great, but everything else here irritates me a lot as it's a lot of cheesed tropes organized without much direction.   Overall Rating: 6/10

3. Bungou Stray Dogs Bungo Stray Dogs 文豪ストレイドッグス [Bones] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Seinen Adult Cast, Detective, Organized Crime, Super Power Action, Mystery, Supernatural For weeks, Atsushi Nakajima's orphanage has been plagued by a mystical tiger that only he seems to be unaware of. Suspected to be behind the strange incidents, the 18-year-old is abruptly kicked out of the orphanage and left hungry, homeless, and wandering through the city. While starving on a riverbank, Atsushi saves a rather eccentric man named Osamu Dazai from drowning. Whimsical suicide enthusiast and supernatural detective, Dazai has been investigating the same tiger that has been terrorizing the boy. Together with Dazai's partner Doppo Kunikida, they solve the mystery, but its resolution leaves Atsushi in a tight spot. As various odd events take place, Atsushi is coerced into joining their firm of supernatural investigators, taking on unusual cases the police cannot handle, alongside his numerous enigmatic co-workers. Mystery superpowers detective with classical Japanese literature writers as main characters is a horrible concept in my opinion, so I refuse to watch this mess past pilot episode.   Overall Rating: 6/10

4. JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken Part 4: Diamond wa Kudakenai JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Diamond is Unbreakable ジョジョの奇妙な冒険 ダイヤモンドは砕けない [David Production] (Finished 1/39) Tags: Shounen Action, Adventure, Supernatural  The year is 1999. Morioh, a normally quiet and peaceful town, has recently become a hotbed of strange activity. Joutarou Kuujou, now a marine biologist, heads to the mysterious town to meet Jousuke Higashikata. While the two may seem like strangers at first, Jousuke is actually the illegitimate child of Joutarou's grandfather, Joseph Joestar. When they meet, Joutarou realizes that he may have more in common with Jousuke than just a blood relation. Along with the mild-mannered Kouichi Hirose and the boisterous Okuyasu Nijimura, the group dedicates themselves to investigating recent disappearances and other suspicious occurrences within Morioh. Aided by the power of Stands, the four men will encounter danger at every street corner, as it is up to them to unravel the town's secrets, before another occurs. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

5. Koutetsujou no Kabaneri Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress 甲鉄城のカバネリ [Wit Studio] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Gore, Historical, Survival Action, Fantasy, Horror, Suspense The world is in the midst of the industrial revolution when horrific creatures emerge from a mysterious virus, ripping through the flesh of humans to sate their never-ending appetite. The only way to kill these beings, known as "Kabane," is by destroying their steel-coated hearts. However, if bitten by one of these monsters, the victim is doomed to a fate worse than death, as the fallen rise once more to join the ranks of their fellow undead. Only the most fortified of civilizations have survived this turmoil, as is the case with the island of Hinomoto, where mankind has created a massive wall to protect themselves from the endless hordes of Kabane. The only way into these giant fortresses is via heavily-armored trains, which are serviced and built by young men such as Ikoma. Having created a deadly weapon that he believes will easily pierce through the hearts of Kabane, Ikoma eagerly awaits the day when he will be able to fight using his new invention. Little does he know, however, that his chance will come much sooner than he expected... It looks a lot like Attack on Titan both for plot and for realization as it's done by the same Studio. The beginning is great, but it starts running around the same circle of everyone suspecting protagonists of being zombies, but then protagonists save everyone again. It improves in the second half, and overall idea is good, so I deem it worthy borderline masterpiece status, but not more, alas.   Overall Rating: 7/10

6. Sakamoto desu ga? Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto 坂本ですが？ [Studio Deen] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Seinen Gag Humor, School Comedy Sophisticated, suave, sublime; all words which describe the exceedingly handsome and patently perfect Sakamoto. Though it is only his first day in high school, his attractiveness, intelligence, and charm already has the girls swooning and the guys fuming with jealousy. No one seems able to derail him, as all attempts at tripping him up are quickly foiled. His sangfroid is indomitable, his wits peerless. Will any of Sakamoto's classmates, or even teachers, be able to reach his level of excellence? Probably not, but they just might learn a thing or two trying... First episode is the only decent one, then comedy becomes stale afterwards for me.   Overall Rating: 6/10

7. Kiznaiver キズナイーバー [Trigger] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi  Katsuhira Agata is a quiet and reserved teenage boy whose sense of pain has all but vanished. His friend, Chidori Takashiro, can only faintly remember the days before Katsuhira had undergone this profound change. Now, his muffled and complacent demeanor make Katsuhira a constant target for bullies, who exploit him for egregious sums of money. But their fists only just manage to make him blink, as even emotions are far from his grasp. However, one day Katsuhira, Chidori, and four other teenagers are abducted and forced to join the Kizuna System as official "Kiznaivers." Those taking part are connected through pain: if one member is injured, the others will feel an equal amount of agony. These individuals must become the lab rats and scapegoats of an incomplete system designed with world peace in mind. With their fates literally intertwined, the Kiznaivers must expose their true selves to each other, or risk failing much more than just the Kizuna System. I don't think I liked even a single Trigger anime as they are all surface-scratching and with characters empty on the inside. It's more about friendship and mutual dependency than anything else.   Overall Rating: 6/10

8. Netoge no Yome wa Onnanoko ja Nai to Omotta? And you thought there is never a girl online? ネトゲの嫁は女の子じゃないと思った？ [Project No.9] (Finished 12/12) Tags: School, Video Game Comedy, Romance, Ecchi After mustering up the courage to propose to a girl in an online game, naive otaku Hideki "Rusian" Nishimura is devastated when she flat-out rejects him. To make matters worse, the girl reveals that she is actually an older man in real life. With his dreams crushed and his heart broken, Rusian comes to an abrupt decision in the midst of his raging fit: he will never trust another girl in an online game again. Years later, Rusian is now in a guild with three other players, one of whom possesses a female avatar by the name of Ako. Ako is deeply in love with Rusian and wants to marry him. Although he entertains the possibility that she might be a guy, Rusian accepts her proposal, claiming that her gender does not matter as long as she is cute in-game. However, after a discussion between the guild members that led to all of them having an offline meeting, Rusian finds out that Ako, along with the other members, is not just a girl but also his schoolmate. There are a few nice features like guildmaster overusing premium items or guild wars, but overall nothing really interesting or enjoyable.   Overall Rating: 6/10

9. Sousei no Onmyouji Twin Star Exorcists 双星の陰陽師 [Pierrot] (Finished 3/50) Tags: Shounen Mythology Action, Fantasy, Romance Magano, a parallel realm filled with monsters known as "Kegare," is a place where exorcists deal with all impurities. Benio Adashino is a prodigy exorcist who is recognized for her strength and is summoned to Tokyo by the Exorcist Union. On her way, she plummets into the arms of Rokuro Enmadou, a young exorcist with a troubled past. But the impurities of Magano do not rest. When these two exorcists witness a couple of children stolen by a Kegare, Benio rushes to save them, dragging Rokuro along with her into Magano. Engaged in a fight she is on the verge of being defeated in, Benio is saved by Rokuro, revealing himself capable of being her rival in talent. Sousei no Onmyouji tells the story of two talented exorcists who are destined to become the "Twin Star Exorcists" and the prophesised parents of the Miko—the reincarnation of Abe no Seimei—who will cleanse the world of all impurities. All exorcist shows look more or less the same to me. Boring.   Overall Rating: 6/10

10. Magi: Sinbad no Bouken (TV) Magi: Adventure of Sinbad マギ シンドバッドの冒険 [Lay-duce] (Finished 1/13) Tags: Shounen Action, Adventure, Fantasy In the small, impoverished Tison Village of the Parthevia Empire, a boy, Sinbad, is born to the jaded ex-soldier Badr and his kind-hearted wife Esra. His birth creates a radiant surge throughout the rukh, a declaration of a singularity to those who stand at the pinnacle of magical might: the "Child of Destiny" is here. Despite his country being plagued by economic instability and the repercussions of war, Sinbad leads a cheerful life—until a stranger's arrival shatters his peaceful world, and tragedy soon befalls him. Years later, mysterious edifices called "dungeons" have been erected all over the world. Rumored to contain great power and treasures, these dungeons piqued the interest of adventurers and armies alike; though to this day, none have returned therefrom. Sinbad, now 14, has grown into a charming and talented young boy. Inspired by the shocking events of his childhood and by his father's words, he yearns to begin exploring the world beyond his village. As though orchestrated by fate, Sinbad meets an enigmatic traveler named Yunan. Stirred by Sinbad's story and ambitions, Yunan directs him to a dungeon which he claims holds the power Sinbad needs to achieve his goals—the "power of a king." Magi: Sinbad no Bouken tells the epic saga of Sinbad's early life as he travels the world, honing his skill and influence, while gathering allies and power to become the High King of the Seven Seas. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 5/10

11. Tanaka-kun wa Itsumo Kedaruge Tanaka-kun is Always Listless 田中くんはいつもけだるげ [SILVER LINK.] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Iyashikei, School Slice of Life For high school student Tanaka, the act of being listless is a way of life. Known for his inattentiveness and ability to fall asleep anywhere, Tanaka prays that each day will be as uneventful as the last, seeking to preserve his lazy lifestyle however he can by avoiding situations that require him to exert himself. Along with his dependable friend Oota who helps him with tasks he is unable to accomplish, the lethargic teenager constantly deals with events that prevent him from experiencing the quiet and peaceful days he longs for. Slow paced bland SOL with too rare moments that stand out.   Overall Rating: 6/10

12. Gakusen Toshi Asterisk 2nd Season The Asterisk War Season 2 学戦都市アスタリスク [A-1 Pictures] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Harem, School Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi, Ecchi Gakusen Toshi Asterisk 2nd Season continues the story of Genestella students Ayato Amagiri and Julis-Alexia von Riessfeld, who have progressed to the next round of the Phoenix Festa after a long and strenuous battle with sisters Irene and Priscilla Urzaiz. Despite Julis and Ayato's best attempts, the fact that Ayato's powers have been sealed is no longer a secret. Now at a major disadvantage, the duo must come up with a plan if they are to have any hope of winning the Phoenix Festa. Only one thing is for sure: the troubles heading their way are only going to get more insurmountable from here on. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

13. Hundred ハンドレッド [Production IMS] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Harem, School Action, Romance, Sci-Fi, Ecchi When an extraterrestrial organism known as "Savage" attacks mankind, the only technology capable of combating the enemy is a weapon known as “Hundred.” A survivor of a Savage attack, Hayato Kisaragi is a teenager boasting the highest compatibility level with the aforementioned technology and as a result, is invited to master his skills at Little Garden, a prestigious military academy aboard a battleship. Over the course of his intense training for the battle ahead, he immediately attracts the interest of multiple female peers and gets drawn into a number of incidents as he tries to fight against the creatures that now inhabit Earth and threaten its safety. A very common plot starting with duels at some military academy and going on as opposing invasion. Don't see any distinctive features here.   Overall Rating: 6/10

14. Flying Witch ふらいんぐうぃっち [J.C.Staff] (Finished 2/12) Tags: Shounen Iyashikei Slice of Life, Supernatural In the witches' tradition, when a practitioner turns 15, they must become independent and leave their home to study witchcraft. Makoto Kowata is one such apprentice witch who leaves her parents' home in Yokohama in pursuit of knowledge and training. Along with her companion Chito, a black cat familiar, they embark on a journey to Aomori, a region favored by witches due to its abundance of nature and affinity with magic. They begin their new life by living with Makoto's second cousins, Kei Kuramoto and his little sister Chinatsu. While Makoto may seem to be attending high school like any other teenager, her whimsical and eccentric involvement with witchcraft sets her apart from others her age. From her encounter with an anthropomorphic dog fortune teller to the peculiar magic training she receives from her older sister Akane, Makoto's peaceful everyday life is filled with the idiosyncrasies of witchcraft that she shares with her friends and family. Super boring SOL that does not want to give anything - not funny, not interesting, without great characters.   Overall Rating: 0/10

15. Big Order (TV) ビッグオーダー [asread.] (Finished 3/10) Tags: Shounen Super Power Action Ten years ago, a fairy by the name of Daisy appeared and asked the child Eiji Hoshimiya what his one and only wish was. Although his wish remains a mystery, the consequences were catastrophic. In an event called the "Great Destruction," the world started to fall apart as everything collapsed and countless people died. Now, Eiji is a high school student whose only concern is his sick sister. He does not remember what he wished for; all that he remembers is that his wish caused the Great Destruction. In the years since that event, thousands of other people have also received abilities to make their heart's desire come true. These people called "Orders" are believed to be evil and are hated by the general public. However, some of these Orders are after Eiji's life in vengeance for those that he killed. Will Eiji be able to survive the numerous assassination attempts? And the biggest mystery of all: what did he wish for, and what were his intentions in wishing for something that caused so much desolation? OVA was a big mess, so I wanted to make impression by the series... and it's also a huge mess not worth even discussing it.   Overall Rating: 5/10

16. Mayoiga The Lost Village 迷家-マヨイガ- [Diomedéa] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Psychological, Survival Drama, Horror, Mystery A bus full of eccentric individuals is headed towards the urban legend known as Nanaki Village, a place where one can supposedly start over and live a perfect life. While many have different ideas of why the village cannot be found on any map, or why even the police cannot pinpoint its location, they each look forward to their new lives and just what awaits them once they reach their destination. After a few mishaps, they successfully arrive at Nanaki Village only to find it completely abandoned. Judging from the state of disrepair, it has been vacant for at least a year. However, secrets are soon revealed as some of the group begin to go missing while exploring the village and amidst the confusion, they find bloody claw marks in a forest. As mistrust and in-fighting break out, will they ever be able to figure out the truth behind this lost village? I remember dropping it midway because of the genre and useless constantly fighting characters. But nothing good can really come of it.    Overall Rating: 5/10

17. Joker Game ジョーカー・ゲーム [Production I.G] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Historical, Military Drama, Mystery, Suspense With World War II right around the corner, intelligence on other countries' social and economic situation has become a valuable asset. As a result, Japan has established a new spy organization known as the "D Agency" to obtain this weapon. Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Yuuki, eight agents have been assigned to infiltrate and observe some of the most powerful countries, reporting on any developments associated with the war. In order to carry out these dangerous tasks, these men have trained their bodies to survive in extreme conditions and studied numerous fields such as communications and languages. However, their greatest strength lies in their ability to manipulate people in order to obtain the information necessary to give their nation the upper hand. Taisho era spy mystery is of very little interest to me, so can't really enjoy it.   Overall Rating: 6/10

18. Uchuu Patrol Luluco Space Patrol Luluco 宇宙パトロールルル子 [Trigger] (Finished 3/13) Tags: Space Action, Adventure, Comedy Living an abnormal existence in Ogikubo, an intergalactic melting pot of humans and aliens as well as the only Space Immigration Zone on Earth, Luluco is a bubbly middle school girl who just wants to be normal. One morning, however, her father, who works at the Space Patrol, eats a volatile sleep capsule by mistake and is frozen solid! To make matters worse, Luluco accidentally breaks him, so she hurries off to his office for help. There, the chief of the Space Patrol, Over Justice, hires Luluco as a space temp worker for undercover investigations, so that the institution may crack down on crime within her school. Made to don the Space Patrol suit and sent on her way to mete out justice, Luluco attempts to maintain the image of a normal girl who does not stand out in any way. But she soon discovers that with the automatic systems and inherently zealous judiciousness of the Space Patrol suit, continuing to be normal will be more difficult than she thought. Parody with only only 7-minute episodes, and I'm not fan of nonsense.   Overall Rating: 6/10

19. Kuromukuro クロムクロ [P.A. Works] (Finished 1/26) Tags: Mecha Action, Sci-Fi During the dawn of the 21st century, the United Nations Kurobe Research Institute was established in Japan to investigate an ancient artifact, which was discovered during the construction of the Kurobe Dam. Scientists from around the world have gathered in the facility to study the object, while their children enjoy their everyday lives attending Mt. Tate International Senior High School. Yukina Shirahane, a reserved high school girl, is the daughter of the facility's head scientist. While visiting her mother at the facility, Yukina manages to solve part of the artifact's puzzle. To her surprise, what appears before her is Kennosuke Tokisada Ouma, a young samurai from the Sengoku era. As a threat approaches from outer space, Yukina, along with Kennosuke, finds herself defending Earth against the invading forces. Along the way, she discovers the mystery behind Kennosuke and the reason he is determined to protect her. Finally a watchable P.A.Works anime again, but can't call it great as characters aren't particularly interesting and traditional P.A.Works interactions make it rather boring.   Overall Rating: 6/10

20. Gyakuten Saiban: Sono "Shinjitsu", Igi Ari! Ace Attorney 逆転裁判 ～その「真実」、異議あり！～ [A-1 Pictures] (Finished 1/24) Tags: Detective, Workplace Comedy, Drama, Mystery  Since he was a child, Ryuuichi Naruhodou's dream was to become a defense attorney, protecting the innocent when no one else would. However, when the rookie lawyer finally takes on his first case under the guidance of his mentor Chihiro Ayasato, he realizes that the courtroom is a battlefield. In these fast paced trials, Ryuuichi is forced to think outside the box to uncover the truth of the crimes that have taken place in order to prove the innocence of his clients. Gyakuten Saiban: Sono "Shinjitsu", Igi Ari! follows Ryuuichi as he tackles cases to absolve the falsely accused of the charges they face. It will not be easy—standing in his path is the ruthless Reiji Mitsurugi, a prosecutor who will stop at nothing to hand out guilty verdicts. With his back against the wall, the defense attorney must carefully examine both evidence and witness testimony, sifting through lies to solve the mystery behind each case. With a shout of "objection!," the battle in the courtroom begins! Can't stand this series as well as detective mysteries.   Overall Rating: 5/10

21. Ushio to Tora (TV) 2nd Season Ushio & Tora (2016) うしおととら [MAPPA, Studio VOLN] (Finished 1/13) Tags: Shounen Mythology Action, Adventure, Supernatural Continuation of Ushio to Tora TV series. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

22. High School Fleet ハイスクール・フリート [Production IMS] (Finished 2/12) Tags: Military, School Action A hundred years after catastrophic shifts in tectonic plates caused most of its area to submerge, Japan now thrives as a maritime nation. High functioning cities line the coasts of Japan, and well developed sea routes are defended by specialized naval ships. The marine industry is flourishing, and young girls are eager to join the Blue Mermaids—highly skilled women who devote their lives to protecting the seas. After some time apart, childhood friends Akeno Misaki and Moeka China are reunited at Yokosuka Girls' Marine High School. Here they are joined by others who share their dream of becoming Blue Mermaids. Soon, training exercises commence, with Akeno and Moeka being put in charge of their own ships and crew. Everything is progressing smoothly for Akeno as she settles into her role as captain and builds camaraderie between her fellow crew members aboard the Harekaze, a destroyer ship. However, unexpected engine and navigation failures soon leave their ship stranded and the crew in danger. High School Fleet follows the Harekaze's valiant crew as they navigate treacherous waters and other obstacles on their quest to become fully fledged Blue Mermaids. Convenient navy high school girl story is pretty cringy, even more so than Girls und Panzer. There's some cuteness and humor, but there's a good question who would want to watch it .   Overall Rating: 6/10

23. Seisen Cerberus: Ryuukoku no Fatalités Cerberus 聖戦ケルベロス　竜刻のファタリテ [Bridge] (Finished 3/13) Tags: Adventure, Fantasy  Maintaining a delicate balance of power, the kingdoms of Amoria, Ishilfen, and Vanrodis rule over the continent of Kuna'anh. Even the slightest hint of trouble in one country could spark a continent-wide war. However, their one common fear is the evil dragon Daganzord, whose only meaning of existence is to devour and destroy all life. Ten years ago, a group of mages worked together in an effort to seal away the malevolent beast. But the ritual—later known as the "Balbagoa Tragedy"—was a failure, and many lost their lives. Though his parents died in this tragedy, Hiiro was saved by the swordsman Giruu. Under the latter's tutelage, Hiiro learned swordsmanship with the sole purpose of seeking revenge. Now a budding master himself, he sets out in search of Daganzord in order to realize his long-awaited vengeance, or to be consumed by the dragon and meet the same fate as his parents. Mediocre fantasy that's watchable, but that never becomes good to watch. Plus, pet micro dragon is super irritating.   Overall Rating: 5/10

24. Terra Formars: Revenge テラフォーマーズ リベンジ [TYO Animations, LIDENFILMS] (Finished 13/13) Tags: Seinen Gore, Space, Survival Action, Horror, Sci-Fi In Terra Formars Revenge, the crew members of the Annex I continue to fight against Terraformars—the large humanoid cockroaches that evolved from the ones sent to Mars centuries ago. However, far from discovering the cure for the lethal Alien Engine Virus that has been plaguing Earth, the Annex I team have learned that some squadrons have agendas from their own countries. Now, the squadrons must not only fight against the Terraformars for their survival, but also each other in the never-ending battle for international dominance. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

25. Shounen Maid Shonen Maid 少年メイド [8bit] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Shoujo Iyashikei Slice of Life After the sudden death of his mother, elementary school student Chihiro Komiya is left with no home and no family. But this changes when he encounters a rich and frivolous stranger who turns out to be his long-lost uncle, Madoka Takatori. Madoka offers to take Chihiro in, but upon arriving at his uncle's high-class mansion, the young boy is greeted by a plethora of dust and garbage. As Chihiro's neatfreak instincts kick in, he sets about cleaning the entire residence. Shounen Maid is a lighthearted comedy that follows Chihiro as he finds himself dressed in a frilly uniform (handmade by his uncle), receiving a salary, and working as maid of the house. Not going to watch a trap anime, does not look any special by the pilot episode.   Overall Rating: 5/10

26. Anne Happy♪ Anne-Happy あんハピ♪ [SILVER LINK.] (Finished 1/12) Tags: CGDCT, School Slice of Life  Tennomifune Academy is an elite institution for the best and the brightest, with the exception of Class 1-7, the so-called "Happiness Class." Each member of the classroom copes with personal misfortunes, and the special class is geared to help them move past their issues and find true happiness. After being accepted into the academy, An Hanakoizumi, Ruri Hibarigaoka, and Botan Kumegawa find themselves placed into the Happiness Class, plagued by dreadful luck, love problems, and bad health respectively. Alongside their classmates, they do their best to overcome the difficulties they are faced with in pursuit of a life filled with joy. Naïve and banal CGDCT.   Overall Rating: 5/10

27. Macross Δ Macross Delta マクロスΔ（デルタ） [Satelight] (Finished 3/26) Tags: Mecha, Military, Music, Space Action, Romance, Sci-Fi Eight years after the events of Macross F, a mysterious phenomenon known as the Var Syndrome is gradually consuming the galaxy. It's up to a new generation of highly capable Valkyrie pilots to deal with this universal menace. And if they didn't have enough on their plate already, the Aerial Knights Valkyrie fighter team from the Kingdom of Wind have come to challenge the Delta Squadron. I'm really tired of Macross concept with spontaneous songs in any situation at all, can't treat it seriously.   Overall Rating: 5/10

28. Kuma Miko Kumamiko: Girl Meets Bear くまみこ [Kinema Citrus, EMT Squared] (Finished 8/12) Tags: Seinen Comedy, Slice of Life What does a bear know about life in the big city? For Machi Amayadori's sake, hopefully a lot! The young shrine maiden has spent her whole life in the rural mountains with Natsu, her talking guardian bear. Now, at fourteen, she wants to take a chance and attend high school in the big city. Can Natsu really prepare her for city life? Or will his wacky trials be too much for even Machi to bear? Not bad SOL comedy with rather small amount of nonsense, but not without flaws, so just above average.   Overall Rating: 6/10

29. Endride エンドライド [Brain's Base, Lapin Track] (Finished 3/24) Tags: Isekai Adventure, Fantasy  Shun Asanaga is a 15-year-old junior high school student with an optimistic and bright personality. One day, he finds a mysterious crystal in the office of his father, who is a scientist and businessman. When Shun touches it, the world becomes distorted, and he is sent into the world of Endra. Emilio, a prince of the kingdom of Endra, is nearing his 16th birthday and despises the reigning king, Delzain. Since Emilio is now at the age when he can inherit the throne, he takes up a weapon and attempts revenge. However, because Emilio is too weak, he is captured by Delzain and put in prison. When Emilio is in grief, the wall of his cell becomes distorted and Shun appears from there with two goals: return to his own world, and complete Emilio's revenge. What future lies ahead for the two boys trying to survive in Endra, yet raised in two different worlds? Very plain isekai full of banalities and with irritating protagonist.   Overall Rating: 5/10

30. Bakuon!! ばくおん!! [TMS Entertainment] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Seinen CGDCT, School Slice of Life Every day Hane Sakura makes the arduous trip to school, cycling up a large hill on her bicycle. After encountering the motorcycle enthusiast Onsa Amano one morning, she is introduced to the motorcycle club, led by the ever-silent Raimu Kawasaki. New to motorcycles, Sakura experiences firsthand the difficulty of learning to ride again. However, through this, she hopes to once again recreate her first biking experience, which was filled with both horror and exhilaration. Alongside Baita, the talking motorcycle; Rin Suzunoki, a Suzuki model enthusiast; Hijiri Minowa, a wealthy girl who dreams of being a thug; and professional racer Chisame Nakano, Sakura strives toward getting her bike license and experiencing the joys and hardships of motorcycles. Another thematic CGDCT, but racing is alien to me, and characters aren't particularly keen.   Overall Rating: 6/10

31. Sansha Sanyou Three Leaves, Three Colors 三者三葉 [Doga Kobo] (Finished 1/12) Tags: CGDCT, School Comedy, Slice of Life Having gone from pampered to poor after the bankruptcy of her father's company, Youko Nishikawa struggles to drop her princess-like persona and make friends at her all-girls high school. One day, while eating alone in a nearby forest, she has a chance encounter with Futaba Odagiri, the super-energetic transfer student, and Teru Hayama, an innocent-looking girl with a surprisingly direct and sometimes mean personality. Despite their differing personalities, the three girls who all have the kanji for "leaf" in their name begin an unlikely friendship as they try to navigate through an amusing and spontaneous adventure known as high school life. Sansha Sanyou is a cheerful, cute series revolving around three close but very different friends as they try to balance the everyday challenges that school and adolescence have to offer. Nothing deep, as expected. Just talk, even no good comedy.   Overall Rating: 6/10

32. Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Crystal Season III Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal Season III 美少女戦士セーラームーンCrystal　第３期＜デス・バスターズ編＞ [Toei Animation] (Finished 1/13) Tags: Shoujo Mahou Shoujo, Mythology Fantasy, Romance Usagi Tsukino is still struggling to balance her home life with the duties of being Sailor Moon, the guardian of love and justice. Along with the other Sailor Guardians and her boyfriend Mamoru Chiba, they begin investigating cases of students from Mugen Academy, a school for the most elite students, who are being transformed into monsters. During the investigation, they meet three strange individuals: Haruka Tenou, a handsome racecar driver; Michiru Kaiou, a talented violinist; and Hotaru Tomoe, a mysterious girl with a weak constitution. As more incidents occur, the Sailor Guardians are met with another surprise—the appearance of two new planetary protectors with motives of their own. Despite the newcomers' questionable allegiance to Usagi and her comrades, they all face a threat from a common enemy: an evil entity who calls himself Pharaoh 90. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

33. Concrete Revolutio: Choujin Gensou - The Last Song コンクリート・レボルティオ～超人幻想～THE LAST SONG [Bones] (Finished 1/11) Tags: Mythology, Super Power Action, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Sci-Fi Titans from outer space, life forms from a mystical world, phantoms and goblins from ancient times, cyborgs created by scientists, relics that rose out of the ruins of ancient civilizations. In another Japan, it's not just a question of "what if"—it's a reality. Some of the superhumans choose to keep their identities a secret, while others bask in their superhuman fame. Jiro Hitoyoshi, member of the Superhuman Bureau, keeps track of their doings. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

34. Kyoukai no Rinne 2nd Season RIN-NE Season 2 境界のRINNE [Brain's Base] (Finished 1/24) Tags: Shounen School Comedy, Supernatural High school student Sakura Mamiya and impoverished death god Rinne Rokudou continue to confront the supernatural. Pulled into the problems of their quirky acquaintances, the pair again find themselves immersed in trouble. Ageha's black cat Oboro seeks revenge for alleged mistreatment and demands Ageha to nullify their contract. When she refuses to do so, a bitter quarrel breaks out between them. Meanwhile, the scheming Damashigami Company shows no sign of halting its wrongdoings, and the bat-like demon Masato continues to commit devious acts to pursue his long-awaited revenge on Rinne. For Sakura and Rinne, these paranormal complications never seem to end. As their saga continues to unfold, they must cope with these unusual circumstances as they appear, all while facing problems of their own. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

35. 12-sai.: Chicchana Mune no Tokimeki 12歳。～ちっちゃなムネのトキメキ～ [OLM] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Shoujo School Romance Reaching a period of life where they are neither a child nor an adult, 12-year-old Hanabi Ayase and Aoi Yui meet with life-changing events. Due to the mischievous demeanor of her male classmates, Ayase does not think highly of the opposite sex. However, her perspective begins to change after she is paired with the kind-hearted Takao Yuuto for a class assignment and unexpectedly shared their first kisses with each other on the school rooftop. With her best friend discovering love, Aoi yearns to seek her own. She finds herself falling in love with the rash Kazuma Hiyama after protecting her from a rejected suitor who had talked behind her back. 12-sai.: Chicchana Mune no Tokimeki follows the four in this phase of adolescence. As they grow up alongside each other, this sweet romance depicts the innocence and excitement of first love. Normal elementary school shoujo just can't be interesting for me, but there is some ok humor, so it's not bad.   Overall Rating: 6/10

36. Kidou Senshi Gundam Unicorn RE:0096 Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn RE:0096 機動戦士ガンダムUC（ユニコーン）RE:0096 [Sunrise] (Finished 1/22) Tags: Mecha, Military, Space Action, Drama, Sci-Fi By the year 0096 of the Universal Century, a fragile peace emerges from the ashes of conflict. Sixteen-year-old student Banagher Links visits the Industrial 7 space colony on a school field trip, but because of a broken shuttle, he is left completely stranded. To Banagher, who has always lived a normal life, war had always been a distant, almost mythical part of history; but within minutes, fantasy becomes reality when he rescues a girl named Audrey Burne, who urgently needs to meet with the leader of the nearby Vist Foundation, Cardeas Vist. She hopes to persuade him to withhold the "Laplace's Box," an object that holds the potential to destroy the world. History is set in motion as galactic forces converge on Industrial 7, each vying for possession of the Laplace's Box. As Neo Zeon remnants clash with Earth Federation Forces around the colony, Cardeas, in his final moments, gives Banagher the key to the Box, a mobile suit dubbed "The Unicorn Gundam." Packed with explosive action and rising tension, Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn RE:0096 follows Banagher as his conviction is tested and the destiny that has laid dormant for more than a century is finally realized. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

37. Aikatsu Stars! アイカツスターズ！ [Bandai Namco Pictures] (Finished 1/100) Tags:  Idols (Female), Music, School Slice of Life Yume Nijino has been accepted into Four Stars academy, home of the beautiful and talented S4 idol group. She and the other newcomers are determined to discover their talent, with a choice of specializing in beauty, singing, dancing, or drama. A tough road lies ahead of them, and they must rely on each other to overcome their weaknesses and develop their unique strengths. At the first-years' opening performances, Yume performs stellarly but faints and is unable to remember being on stage at all. Struggling to find her talent, she meets Rola "Laura" Sakuraba, and the two develop a friendly rivalry, working together to learn and improve. Though they have their differences, all the students share the same goal: to become the next S4 idol. But hard work and determination, along with teamwork, are needed if they want to join the elite S4. I'm not target audience to enjoy CGI dances and frilly dresses, so indifference is all I feel towards it.   Overall Rating: 6/10

38. Tonkatsu DJ Agetarou とんかつDJアゲ太郎 [Studio Deen] (Finished 2/12) Tags: Shounen Music Comedy Tonkatsu chef by day, professional DJ by night—this is the aspiration of Agetarou Katsumata, whose family owns a small tonkatsu shop in Shibuya. One night, Agetarou delivers an order to a staff member at a nightclub and gets invited inside as a token of thanks. Although nervous at first, he soon finds himself absorbed by the atmosphere, falling in love with the dancing girls, flashing lights, and groovy music. Agetarou starts visiting the club regularly until a certain night leads him to a chance encounter with a legendary American DJ: Big Master Fly. Putting on a spectacular show, the DJ sparks an epiphany in Agetarou—the groove of mixing music appears to be strikingly similar to the rhythm of preparing tonkatsu. Thenceforth Agetarou sets his sights on becoming a master of both disciplines. With the help of his neighborhood friends and his mentor DJ Oily, Agetarou pursues his dream all the while dealing with familial problems, love issues, and many other kinds of trouble. Tonkatsu DJ Agetarou is a hilarious tale about an impulsive young boy trying to find his own path in life, while still fulfilling his familial and social responsibilities. It's deliberately ugly and crude. I don't buy the concept that DJ is like a cook... and don't see anything to enjoy here, really as humor is not to my liking for sure.   Overall Rating: 5/10

39. Cardfight!! Vanguard G: Stride Gate-hen Cardfight!! Vanguard G Stride Gate カードファイト!! ヴァンガードG ストライドゲート編 [TMS Entertainment] (Finished 1/24) Tags: Strategy Game Action The second half of the second season of Cardfight!! Vanguard G series. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 5/10

40. Shounen Ashibe: Go! Go! Goma-chan 少年アシベ GO！GO！ゴマちゃん [Bridge, Husio Studio] (Finished 1/32) Tags: Seinen Comedy, Slice of Life Shounen Ashibe follows the daily life of first-grader Ashibe Ashiya and his spotted seal pet Goma-chan. Remake.   Overall Rating: 6/10

41. Future Card Buddyfight Triple D フューチャーカード バディファイトDDD [Xebec, OLM] (Finished 1/51) Tags: Strategy Game  Third season of Future Card Buddyfight. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 5/10

42. Battle Spirits: Double Drive バトルスピリッツ ダブルドライブ [Bandai Namco Pictures] (Finished 1/51) Tags: Strategy Game Fantasy Shunta Mogami loves the Battle Spirits game. One day he is transported by a light from a Battle Spirits card to Spirits World, the origin of all Battle Spirits. He meets a girl named Eto, who claims to have summoned him to Spirits World in order to prevent its destruction at the hands of the revived Evil God-King, who once plotted the destruction of Spirits World before being defeated and sealed away. Together with the confident, green-deck-wielding Yoku Albatrosa, who also came from another world, Shunta sets out to find the twelve God-Kings whose power originally sealed the Evil God-King. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 5/10

43. Ji Jia Shou Shen: Baolie Feiche Screechers Wild!  机甲兽神之爆裂飞车 [Alpha Animation] (Finished 1/40) Tags: Racing Action, Adventure Bang! One day, the Universe exploded! The explosion produced a number of light crystals which scattered in the Earth and became energy coins. Some energy life entities also came to the Earth and existed as mini cars to chase light crystals. Once those mini cars grasped light crystals, they would return to their original forms. A group of evil attempted to plot against the Earth with the super power of light crystals. To protect the Earth, the righteous kids Hawley, Kinson and Yolan help the mini cars of the justice side to collect energy coins. Armed with Eagle Car and Dragon Car, the two brothers are ready to fight against the Commander-K leaded evil force. The war is on… Chinese shounen for youngest kids.   Overall Rating: 5/10

44. Zhen Hun Jie Rakshasa Street 镇魂街 [L²Studio] (Finished 2/24) Tags: Action, Supernatural Based on the Chinese manhua. Requiem Street, where evil spirits are attracted to in order to destroy them. A place where spirits and humans co-exist, not all humans can enter Requiem Street. Only those rare-soul users with guardian spirits can enter. Xia Ling was just a normal university intern, but a meeting by chance changes her ordinary life... In this world full of evil spirits, can you cooperate with your guardian spirit in order to survive? It has so many borrowings from Fullmetal Alchemist that it's almost plagiary, but it it probably just  copies traits of many fighting shounens. Rather simple and with focus on visuals and battles.    Overall Rating: 6/10

45. Jie Mo Ren The Devil Ring 戒魔人 [Tencent Animation & Comics, Qiying Animation] (Finished 1/14) Tags: Action, Fantasy, Mystery, Supernatural  When Freshman Zhou Xiaoan put on a ring of unclear origin, a terrifying devil leaps from his mouth and his life is changed forever. Shocking historical secrets are slowly revealed - a Blood Devil calling itself King Zhou of Shang, a race of heart-eating zombies; a dubious group of Taoist Priests that fight against them; mysterious beings of the supernatural world who can blend in to human society. It feels totally like previous silly Chinese ONA - situational silly humor, focus on supposed coolness and incoherent narration.   Overall Rating: 5/10

46. Nuwa Chengzhang Riji 女娲成长日记 [B.CMAY PICTURES] (Finished 3/30) Tags: Comedy, Fantasy This story follows an orphan girl rumoured to be a successor of "Nuwa", the goddess of creation in ancient Chinese mythology. Partially translated. Short unserious episodes with episodic humor, hard to recommend, really.   Overall Rating: 6/10

47. Masamune Datenicle 政宗ダテニクル [Gainax, Gaina] (Finished 6/6) Tags: Historical, Samurai, Super Power Action The coming-of-age battle story will center on the famous 17th-century Japanese warlord Date Masamune when he was young. The Date clan took its name from the Date region of the former Mutsu province, which comprises part of the modern-day city of Date. The anime will be the first in the city's "Kirari na Wonder Project" (Twinkling Wonder Project), which aims to highlight tourist attractions and the appeal of the region. Gainax's newly founded Fukushima studio will work on the anime, and will complete it at the end of March. The anime will have a private screening in April and will also screen in anime events and be posted online. Huge lump of nonsense with poor singing.   Overall Rating: 5/10

48. Ma Shen Mahjong King 麻神 [Thundray] (Finished 2/16) Tags: Strategy Game Drama Mahjong holds a major influence over the world. Mahjong masters are highly respected, and these players compete to become the leading player: the Mahjong King! Players from across the world come together to duel one another. Not translated. Guess Chinese need their own Kaiji.   Overall Rating: 5/10

49. Hen Xi You 狠西游 [Vasoon Animation] (Finished 3/20) Tags: Action, Fantasy, Supernatural  A modern day high school student is accidentally possessed by the spirit of the ancient Monkey King. Not translated. Full CGI. Normal shounen with superpowers.   Overall Rating: 6/10

50. Zutto Mae kara Suki deshita. Kokuhaku Jikkou Iinkai I've Always Liked You ずっと前から好きでした。～告白実行委員会～ [Qualia Animation] (Finished 1/1) Tags: School Romance Love is blooming at Sakuragaoka High School. Natsuki Enomoto has finally mustered the courage to confess to her childhood friend, Yuu Setoguchi. However, in the final moments of her confession, an embarrassed Natsuki passes it off as a "practice confession." Oblivious to her true feelings and struggling with his own, Yuu promises to support Natsuki in her quest for love. While Natsuki deals with her failed confession, fellow classmate Koyuki Ayase struggles with his own feelings for Natsuki. Despite his timidness, he is determined to win over her heart. Zutto Mae Kara Suki deshita.: Kokuhaku Jikkou Iinkai follows Natsuki as she dreams of one day ending her practices and genuinely confessing to Yuu. Meanwhile, close friends also find themselves entangled in their own webs of unrequited love and unspoken affections. Naïve school romance. Definitely not among the best representatives of the genre.   Overall Rating: 6/10

51. Kidou Senshi Gundam Thunderbolt: December Sky Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt: December Sky 機動戦士ガンダム サンダーボルト DECEMBER SKY [Sunrise] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Mecha, Military, Space Action, Drama, Sci-Fi Federation troops and Zeon forces carry out a fierce battle in the Thunderbolt Sector in what was once Side 4 "Moore." The Thunderbolt Sector is a shoal zone composed of the debris of destroyed space colonies, named for the electrical discharges from the metal debris. MS pilot Io Flemming is among the Federation soldiers who are dispatched to the area, where Zeon sniper Daryl Lorenz awaits them on the battlefield. Throw in one disabled sniper, lots of silly jazz and one battle, and what we get is ... same irritating stuff as usual - all the looks and no substance.   Overall Rating: 6/10

52. Crayon Shin-chan Movie 24: Bakusui! Yumemi World Dai Totsugeki 映画クレヨンしんちゃん 爆睡! ユメミーワールド大突撃 [Shin-Ei Animation] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Seinen Comedy A story set in the dream world, depicting the Kasukabe Defense Forces and the Nohara Family fighting against a nightmare trouble. One day the people in Kasukabe come to be able to have dreams they want in their sleep, after having a strange dream in which a giant fish swallows them. The people enjoy having their own distinctive dream in the dream world, but the world gradually changes into a nightmare world. Shinnosuke Nohara and Kasukabe Defense Forces members let Saki Nubatama, a girl who moves in Kasukabe, join the group, and they go into the dream world to explore the cause of the nightmare. It's back on the conspiracy organization track which I don't approve.   Overall Rating: 5/10

53. Naze Ikiru: Rennyo Shounin to Yoshizaki Enjou なぜ生きる─蓮如上人と吉崎炎上─ [Studio Deen] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Historical  Ryouken, a young man who hates temples and monks, laments his misfortunes but finds hope in his soon-to-be-born child. An unfortunate accident took everything from Ryouken. In the days of self-abandonment and suffering in darkness, Ryouken finds the teachings of the high priest Rennyo. In it, he finds answers to the question "Why live" as explained by the sage Shinran. As he is drawn into the teachings and no longer hesitates, Ryouken becomes Rennyo's apprentice. The number of worshippers increase, but the Honganji temple becomes a target of the other sects, forcing Ryouken and Rennyo to flee from Kyoto. In order to find a new place to teach, they arrive in Yoshizaki (now in Fukui Prefecture) in the Hokuriku region. Mundane Buddhist story, nothing to see here.   Overall Rating: 5/10

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