Anime of the Year 2016-III Summer - Berserk

Berserk of 2016 is the winner for me. New Game! is a nice game creation SOL.

1. Mob Psycho 100 モブサイコ100  [Bones] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Super Power Action, Comedy, Supernatural Eighth-grader Shigeo "Mob" Kageyama has tapped into his inner wellspring of psychic prowess at a young age. But the power quickly proves to be a liability when he realizes the potential danger in his skills. Choosing to suppress his power, Mob's only present use for his ability is to impress his longtime crush, Tsubomi, who soon grows bored of the same tricks. In order to effectuate control on his skills, Mob enlists himself under the wing of Arataka Reigen, a con artist claiming to be a psychic, who exploits Mob's powers for pocket change. Now, exorcising evil spirits on command has become a part of Mob's daily, monotonous life. However, the psychic energy he exerts is barely the tip of the iceberg; if his vast potential and unrestrained emotions run berserk, a cataclysmic event that would render him completely unrecognizable will be triggered. The progression toward Mob's explosion is rising and attempting to stop it is futile. Dropped earlier and only finished it now because heard how funny and action-packed it is. And it does not look like that to me. Action segments are typical for shounens, and humor is not really good and very situational and weird. Can't get to like it and will definitely skip further seasons.   Overall Rating: 6/10

2. Shokugeki no Souma: Ni no Sara Food Wars! The Second Plate 食戟のソーマ 弍ノ皿 [J.C.Staff] (Finished 13/13) Tags: Shounen School Gourmet, Ecchi The qualifiers of the Autumn Elections are now over, and only eight talented chefs remain. Now, they face off in one-on-one food wars, each with their own unique themes. Met with both new judges and new opponents all with their own specialties, Souma must stay on his toes if he hopes to make it to the top of both the Autumn Elections and Tootsuki Culinary Academy. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

3. ReLIFE  [TMS Entertainment] (Finished 13/13) Tags: School Drama, Romance Dismissed as a hopeless loser by those around him, 27-year-old Arata Kaizaki bounces around from one job to another after quitting his first company. His unremarkable existence takes a sharp turn when he meets Ryou Yoake, a member of the ReLife Research Institute, who offers Arata the opportunity to change his life for the better with the help of a mysterious pill. Taking it without a second thought, Arata awakens the next day to find that his appearance has reverted to that of a 17-year-old. Arata soon learns that he is now the subject of a unique experiment and must attend high school as a transfer student for one year. Though he initially believes it will be a cinch due to his superior life experience, Arata is proven horribly wrong on his first day: he flunks all his tests, is completely out of shape, and can't keep up with the new school policies that have cropped up in the last 10 years. Furthermore, Ryou has been assigned to observe him, bringing Arata endless annoyance. ReLIFE follows Arata's struggle to adjust to his hectic new lifestyle and avoid repeating his past mistakes, all while slowly discovering more about his fellow classmates. It starts well, but moves monotonously in the same dull manner on and on. So everything depends on whether you get to like characters, and I did not.   Overall Rating: 6/10

4. Orange オレンジ [Telecom Animation Film] (Finished 13/13) Tags: Shoujo Love Polygon, School, Time Travel Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi Naho Takamiya's first day of her sophomore year of high school is off to an uneasy start. After waking up late, she receives a strange letter addressed to her. However, the letter is from herself—10 years in the future! At first, Naho is skeptical of the note; yet, after witnessing several events described to take place, she realizes the letter really is from her 26-year-old self. The note details that Naho's future life is filled with regrets, and she hopes that her younger self can correct the mistakes that were made in the past. The letter also warns her to keep a close eye on the new transfer student, Kakeru Naruse. Naho must be especially careful in making decisions involving him, as Kakeru is not around in the future. With the letter as her guide, Naho now has the power to protect Kakeru before she comes to regret it once more. Lots of puppy romance and naivete. Pretentious and fake, very similar to ReLIFE in that.   Overall Rating: 6/10

5. 91 Days  [Shuka] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Historical, Organized Crime Action, Drama As a child living in the town of Lawless, Angelo Lagusa has witnessed a tragedy: his parents and younger brother have been mercilessly slaughtered by the Vanetti mafia family. Losing everything he holds dear, he leaves both his name and hometown behind, adopting the new identity of Avilio Bruno. Seven years later, Avilio finally has his chance for revenge when he receives a mysterious letter prompting him to return to Lawless. Obliging, he soon encounters the Vanetti don's son, Nero, and seeks to befriend him using the skills he has quietly honed for years. Set during the Prohibition era, 91 Days tells the story of Avilio's dark, bloodstained path to vengeance, as he slowly ends each of the men involved in the killing of his family. Good mafia setting, but I've seen a lot of these, so I'm not impressed easily. Characters play their roles, but lack distinctive personality. There's not enough engagement.   Overall Rating: 6/10

6. Nanatsu no Taizai: Seisen no Shirushi The Seven Deadly Sins: Signs of Holy War 七つの大罪 聖戦の予兆 [A-1 Pictures] (Finished 1/4) Tags: Shounen Action, Adventure, Fantasy The Seven Deadly Sins, along with Elizabeth Liones and Hawk, have won the Kingdom of Leones back from the Holy Knights. At long last, it's their time to indulge in the peaceful lives they fought for. From inedible meat pies, overdue battles, unexpected stalkers, and the butterflies of first love, the Sins are accompanied by their friends in their carefree, fun-filled time together. However, the calm is broken with the premonition of a new threat, bringing upon the signs of Holy War and threatening to shatter the peace of the Sins' easygoing days. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

7. New Game!  [Doga Kobo] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Adult Cast, CGDCT, Otaku Culture, Workplace Comedy Since childhood, Aoba Suzukaze has loved the Fairies Story game series, particularly the character designs. So when she graduates from high school, it is no surprise that she applies to work at Eagle Jump, the company responsible for making her favorite video game. On her first day, she is excited to learn that she will be working on a new installment to the series: Fairies Story 3—and even more so under Kou Yagami, the lead character designer. In their department are people who share the same passion for games. There is Yun Iijima, whose specialty is designing monsters; the shy Hifumi Takimoto, who prefers to communicate through instant messaging; Hajime Shinoda, an animation team member with an impressive figurine collection; Rin Tooyama, the orderly art director; Shizuku Hazuki, the game director who brings her cat to work; and Umiko Ahagon, the short-tempered head programmer. New Game! follows Aoba and the others on their adventure through the ups and downs of game making, from making the perfect character design to fixing all the errors that will inevitably accumulate in the process. It's a nice anime about developing a professional game, so it fits me quite ok. Even though there's no story, characters are quite good, on par with Shirobako, so game can be enjoyed, at least I finished it back then, so can't deny it a masterpiece.   Overall Rating: 7/10

8. Berserk Berserk (2016) ベルセルク [Millepensee, GEMBA] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Seinen Gore, Military Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Horror Now branded for death and destined to be hunted by demons until the day he dies, Guts embarks on a journey to defy such a gruesome fate, as waves of beasts relentlessly pursue him. Steeling his resolve, he takes up the monstrous blade Dragonslayer and vows to exact vengeance on the one responsible, hunting down the very man he once looked up to and considered a friend. Along the way, he encounters some unlikely allies, such as a small elf named Puck, and Isidro, a young thief looking to learn swordsmanship from the former mercenary. As the ragtag group slowly comes together after having decided to join Guts in his quest, they will face incredible danger unlike anything they have ever experienced before. Can't say I detest drawing. For me arcs following Golden Age are just weaker, yet it never stopped being enjoyable for me.   Overall Rating: 8/10

9. Danganronpa 3: The End of Kibougamine Gakuen - Mirai-hen Danganronpa 3: The End of Hope's Peak High School - Future Arc ダンガンロンパ3 -The End of 希望ヶ峰学園- 未来編 [Lerche] (Finished 1/12) Tags: High Stakes Game, Psychological, Survival Action, Horror, Mystery After Makoto Naegi and his fellow survivors escaped Hope's Peak Academy to the world beyond, they soon join the Future Foundation, an organization dedicated to combating despair. Just when all seems to be looking up, Naegi is arrested and tried for betrayal due to defending a malicious group of Remnants of Despair. Standing before all of the Future Foundation executives, he finds himself, along with Kyouko Kirigiri and Aoi Asahina, facing an unknown fate. The matter at hand only escalates when the organization's supposedly impenetrable security is hacked into by a familiar face: Monokuma. Much to Naegi's horror, the mechanical bear immediately announces the beginning of a new killing game, as moments later, the first victim appears as a signal for despair to resume its brutal conquest. Naegi, the Super High School-Level Lucky Student, must once again unravel the mystery as his colleagues and friends begin falling around him. However, there are no more class trials; among the 16 desperate participants, there is only one killer—and their death means the end of this infernal game. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

10. Tales of Zestiria the Cross Tales of Zestiria the X テイルズ オブ ゼスティリア ザ クロス [ufotable] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Action, Adventure, Fantasy  The Celestial Records speak of the existence of the "Seraphim," a race of divine beings who give blessings to humanity and are offered prayers by them in return. Those who are anointed with the ability to interact with these spirits are known as "Shepherds." Hailed as heroes for their prompt appearances in times of crisis, while also being feared for their power, the Shepherds are imprinted in common folklore along with the Seraphim. Sorey is a young human who has spent his entire life living in harmony alongside the Seraphim in the village of Elysia. Fascinated by the myths of the Celestial Records, he explores some nearby ruins with Mikleo—his childhood Seraphim companion—hoping to enlighten himself about the Seraphims' history with mankind. Unfortunately, they become trapped in the depths of the historical site during their investigation. While searching for an exit, they come across a mysterious girl who desperately seeks the help of a Shepherd to save the world, which is on the brink of being consumed by darkness. Despite Mikleo's warning about making contact with other humans, Sorey decides to help the stranger, which unknowingly leads him closer to the dream of peaceful coexistence between man and Seraphim. Found it very mundane and slow and boring.   Overall Rating: 6/10

11. Nejimaki Seirei Senki: Tenkyou no Alderamin Alderamin on the Sky ねじ巻き精霊戦記 天鏡のアルデラミン [Madhouse] (Finished 13/13) Tags: Military Action, Adventure, Fantasy Ikta Solork is a carefree young man who only wants two things in life: a woman on his arm and a place to nap. Unfortunately, his peaceful life is destroyed when war breaks out between the Katjvarna Empire and the neighboring Republic of Kioka. Ikta and his childhood friend, Yatorishino Igsem, join the army as military officers, where they meet the infantryman Matthew Tetojirichi, the sniper Torway Remion, and the medic Haroma Becker on a boat heading for the military exam site. However, after a rogue storm sinks their vessel, the five of them end up in enemy territory near a military outpost. There, they discover that the heir to the Katjvarnan throne, Princess Chamille Kitora Katjvanmaninik, has been taken hostage. The five are able to rescue her, and as a reward, each one of them is granted the title of Imperial Knight—one of the highest honors a soldier can receive. It seems that Ikta will have to put his dream of tranquility on hold, as he must now become the hero he never wanted to be. Watched it before and could never understand what it appeals to. It's average in everything but maybe battles. It's not realistic and not immersive, which results in just a dull story.   Overall Rating: 6/10

12. Amaama to Inazuma Sweetness & Lightning 甘々と稲妻 [TMS Entertainment] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Seinen Childcare, Iyashikei Gourmet, Slice of Life Since the death of his wife, Kouhei Inuzuka has been caring for his young daughter Tsumugi to the best of his abilities. However, with his lack of culinary knowledge and his busy job as a teacher, he is left relying on ready-made meals from convenience stores to feed the little girl. Frustrated at his own incapability to provide a fresh, nutritious meal for his daughter, Kouhei takes up an offer from his student, Kotori Iida, to come have dinner at her family's restaurant. But on their very first visit, the father and daughter discover that the restaurant is often closed due to Kotori's mother being away for work and that Kotori often eats alone. After much pleading from his pupil, Kouhei decides to continue to go to the restaurant with Tsumugi to cook and share delicious homemade food with Kotori. Amaama to Inazuma follows the heartwarming story of a caring father trying his hardest to make his adorable little daughter happy, while exploring the meanings and values behind cooking, family, and the warm meals at home that are often taken for granted. Childcare SOL is nice, but each episode is devoted to the different gourmet theme, and I can't enjoy that without more distinctive story like in Souma.   Overall Rating: 6/10

13. Kono Bijutsu-bu ni wa Mondai ga Aru! This Art Club Has a Problem! この美術部には問題がある！ [feel.] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Seinen School, Visual Arts Comedy, Romance Mizuki Usami is a passionate member of her school's art club, but the club has a problem—Usami is the only member who takes her craft seriously! The lazy club president constantly sleeps through activities and Collette hasn't regularly attended club activities in quite some time. Uchimaki Subaru, despite being an exceptional artist who could win an award if he tried, is obsessed with drawing the perfect 2D wife. Light-hearted and comedic in tone, Kono Bijutsubu ni wa Mondai ga Aru! follows Usami as she struggles to do art club-like activities, often obstructed by her motley crew of good-for-nothings and her distracting crush on Subaru. Without serious realistic characters it's yet another culture club romcom, only enjoyable if you have not seen too many of them yet.   Overall Rating: 6/10

14. Handa-kun はんだくん [Diomedéa] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Shounen School, Visual Arts Comedy Hated by everyone around him, Sei Handa goes about his high school life regarded as an outcast—or at least that is what he believes. In reality, Handa is the most popular student on campus, revered by all for his incomparable calligraphy skills, good looks, and cool personality. However, due to an endless series of misunderstandings, Handa perceives the worship he receives from his legions of fans as bullying, leading the school's idol to shut himself off from the rest of his classmates. But distancing himself from his peers does not deter them from adoring him; in fact, his attempts at drawing attention away from himself often end up unintentionally converting even the most skeptical of students into believers. Fashion models, shut-in delinquents, obsessive fangirls, and more—none can stand against the brilliance that is Sei Handa. Variation of Sakamoto Desu Ga nonsense comedy. Watchable, but it's too silly for me to care.   Overall Rating: 6/10

15. Masou Gakuen HxH Hybrid x Heart Magias Academy Ataraxia 魔装学園H×H [Production IMS] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Harem, School Action, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance, Sci-Fi, Ecchi  Hida Kizuna possesses the HHG (Heart Hybrid Gear) ability, but it is not strong enough to make him particularly important. His older sister calls him to transfer to a strategic defense school, where many of the students (many of which are large-breasted girls) use their HHG abilities to fight invaders from another world while wearing extremely skimpy pilot outfits. Kizuna's fighting ability doesn't measure up, but his sister has another plan—apparently having erotic experiences with Kizuna will allow the girls to replenish their energy or power-up. It looks like his new school life is going to be full of embarrassment. Typical ecchi harem with fighting, as banal as possible.   Overall Rating: 5/10

16. Taboo Tattoo タブー・タトゥー [J.C.Staff] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Seinen Martial Arts, Super Power Action, Supernatural Seigi, a martial arts trained middle schooler, often feels driven to protect the weaker people around him. One day, he defends a homeless man against some punks, and the man gives him a strange tattoo on his palm in return. The tattoo is a secret weapon produced in the arms race between America and the Serinistan Kingdom. Seigi finds himself in over his head when a powerful girl, using the same secret weapon, violently pursues him in order to retrieve it. His skill at martial arts may not be enough to keep him alive, but will he be able to learn how to trigger the power of his tattoo in time? Just senseless fighting action without anything decent to .   Overall Rating: 5/10

17. Servamp SERVAMP（サーヴァンプ） [Brain's Base, Platinum Vision] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Josei Vampire Action, Fantasy Mahiru Shirota firmly believes that simple is best and troublesome things should be avoided at all costs. It is troublesome to do nothing and regret it later—and this ideology has led the 15-year-old to pick up a stray cat on his way home from school. As he affectionately names the feline Kuro, little does he know that this chance meeting will spark an extraordinary change in his everyday life. One day, Mahiru returns home to find something quite strange: a mysterious young man he has never seen before. His subsequent panic results in the uninvited guest being exposed to sunlight and—much to Mahiru's shock—transforming into Kuro! Upon revealing himself as a mere lazy shut-in vampire, Kuro promises to leave once night falls. However, one disaster after another leads to Mahiru accidentally forming a contract with his new freeloader, dragging him into a life-threatening battle of supernatural servants and bloodthirsty beings that is anything but simple. Empty story with poor characters and presentation.   Overall Rating: 6/10

18. Rewrite リライト [8bit] (Finished 13/13) Tags: School Action, Comedy, Romance, Supernatural Kazamatsuri, a modern, well-developed city renowned for its burgeoning greenery and rich Japanese culture, is home to Kotarou Tennouji, a high schooler least privy to the place's shared values. Content to fill his pockets with frivolity, the proud and nosey boy whiles away his time pestering the self-proclaimed delinquent Haruhiko, and indulging in his amorous feelings toward the oddball Kotori. Equipped with the superhuman ability to permanently rewrite any part of his body to multiply his strength or speed, Kotarou is naturally drawn to the supernatural. One special meeting with the lone member and president of the Occult Research Club, the "Witch" Akane Senri, leads to Kotarou reviving the Occult Club by recruiting Kotori and three other members: the clumsy transfer student Chihaya, the strict class representative Lucia, and the unassuming Shizuru. As Kotarou unveils hidden secrets of each member of the Occult Club through their shared adventures, he will inevitably encounter a fate that only he might be able to rewrite. I finished anime in the past just because VN is totally unbearable. And Rewrite is horrible in every possible way. It's a difficult task to make the world worse by creating something, and Rewrite manages to get this achievement.   Overall Rating: 5/10

19. Yi Ren Zhi Xia Hitori no Shita - The Outcast 一人之下 THE OUTCAST [Namu Animation] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Super Power Action, Supernatural  When university student Zhang Chulan returns to his home village, he is devastated to learn that his grandfather Zhang Xilin's grave has been desecrated. As he investigates the cemetery in search for clues, he is attacked by a tomb raider using the false identity of Zhang Xilin's granddaughter. Left to die in a swarm of zombies summoned by the person who spirited his grandfather's body away, Zhang Chulan manages to escape thanks to qi, the power that his grandfather taught him. When Zhang Chulan returns to his uneventful student life, he is shocked to again meet the tomb raider, Feng Baobao, who condemned him to a grim fate. Affiliated with a state organization tasked with handling outcasts known as qi wielders, Baobao forces him to join a delivery company that acts as a front for their true pursuits. As various factions clash to seize the mysterious power Zhang Chulan is said to have inherited from his grandfather, the young man must learn how to choose his allies if he wants to survive in this dangerous world of outcasts. First big Chinese anime with global targeting. A decent action that fails to get anywhere after initial stage setting.   Overall Rating: 6/10

20. Qualidea Code クオリディア・コード [A-1 Pictures] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Super Power Action, Fantasy, Sci-Fi On a quiet and peaceful day, the skies split open and extradimensional beings, designated as the Unknown, launch a swift and brutal attack against humanity. To protect the future of the country, all of Japan's children are cryogenically frozen until the end of the war to keep them out of harm's way. Several years pass, and humanity has established a foothold in a corner of Japan, which now serves as the frontline of the war. No longer facing humanity's extinction, the children are awakened from their slumber. It is then discovered that, while in cryogenesis, the children had developed Worlds, supernatural powers unique to each person. The six most powerful children are given command of the reclaimed cities, using their powers to defend the strongholds against the continuing invasion. Childhood friends Ichiya Suzaku and Canaria Utara lead Tokyo, siblings Kasumi and Asuha Chigusa manage Chiba, and Maihime Tenkawa and Hotaru Rindou oversee Kanagawa. Over time, the almost routine attacks from the Unknown and the clashing personalities of the city heads and subheads cultivate petty rivalries, leading to constant arguments between the three cities. With the Unknown suddenly increasing the pressure of their attacks, the three cities' leaders must learn how to work together or risk losing the last line of defense against humanity's extinction. It's done in a very plain and cliché way which buries any attempt to tell a story.   Overall Rating: 6/10

21. D.Gray-man Hallow ディー・グレイマン ハロー [TMS Entertainment] (Finished 1/13) Tags: Shounen Mythology, Super Power Action, Adventure, Fantasy Despite the recent Akuma attack, the members of the Black Order are in high spirits as they set about moving to a new base. Immediately upon his arrival, however, Allen Walker is suddenly called by the Central Agency and has his arm forcefully sealed by the Order. He is then led to a surprising meeting with his master, General Cross Marian, who reveals staggering secrets surrounding the enigmatic 14th Noah. A phantom thief incident, the arrival of a mysterious group of Exorcists, the death of an important comrade, and an all-out battle against the Noah Family—just what does this mean for Allen, Yuu Kanda, and the rest of the Order? This is but the beginning of a series of strange, seemingly unconnected events that lead to something far greater. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

22. Love Live! Sunshine!! ラブライブ！サンシャイン!! [ Sunrise] (Finished 1/13) Tags: Idols (Female), Music, School Slice of Life Chika Takami, a self-proclaimed normal girl, has never been involved in any clubs and lacked any notable talents. However, after a visit to Tokyo, she discovers a stage where even an ordinary girl like her could shine—the world of school idols. Inspired by the former superstar school idol group μ's, Chika is determined to start her own school idol club in her seaside hometown at Uranohoshi Girl's High School. But even before gathering any students to join the group, the aspiring school idol finds her greatest obstacle to be student council president Dia Kurosawa who stands firmly against the creation of the club. Just when it seems there is no hope, Chika meets Riko Sakurauchi, a transfer student from Otonokizaka High School, home of μ's. Somewhat shy but a talented piano player, Chika believes her to be a promising recruit, though convincing her to join is easier said than done. In spite of that, Chika chooses to charge forward and overcome the obstacles keeping her from forming a school idol group that shines as bright as the nine that came before her. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

23. Days (TV)  [MAPPA] (Finished 1/24) Tags: Shounen School, Team Sports The series is about two boys named Tsukushi and Jin. Tsukushi is a boy with no special talent or traits while Jin is considered a soccer genius. On one stormy night, Jin meets Tsukushi, and they get dragged into the world of soccer. I just don't care about spokons, especially pure masculine ones.   Overall Rating: 6/10

24. Arslan Senki (TV): Fuujin Ranbu The Heroic Legend of Arslan: Dust Storm Dance アルスラーン戦記 風塵乱舞 [LIDENFILMS] (Finished 1/8) Tags: Shounen Historical, Military Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy Continuing on his quest to retake Ecbatana, Prince Arslan and his company march toward the city. But upon receiving news that the neighboring Kingdom of Turan is launching an assault on the Parsian stronghold at Peshawar Citadel, the prince is forced to turn back in order to defend the fortress. Amid holding off the invading forces, the Parsian army is met by an unexpected visitor. As Arslan returns to Peshawar, Prince Hermes takes a slight detour from his clash against his cousin to search for the legendary sword Rukhnabad, which would grant him the right to rule and take back what he believes is rightfully his. However, after unearthing the lost artifact, the blade is stolen by the Temple Knights of Lusitania, prompting the masked warrior to give chase. Meanwhile in Ecbatana, the captive King Andragoras III finds an opportunity to strike and begins to make his move. As the separate sides of the Parsian royal conflict clash, Arslan's right to the throne falls under attack. But no matter the obstacles in their way, the young prince and his loyal band of warriors charge forward to restore Pars to its former glory. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

25. Fukigen na Mononokean The Morose Mononokean 不機嫌なモノノケ庵 [Pierrot Plus] (Finished 3/13) Tags: Mythology Comedy, Supernatural The start of Hanae Ashiya's high school career has not been easy—he has spent all of the first week in the infirmary, and his inexplicable condition is only getting worse. The cause of his torment is the mysterious fuzzy creature that has attached itself to him ever since he stumbled upon it the day before school began. As his health continues to decline and the creature grows in size, Hanae comes across a flyer advertising an exorcist who expels youkai. Desperate and with nothing left to lose, he calls the number and is led to the Mononokean, a tea room which suddenly appears next to the infirmary. A morose-sounding man, Haruitsuki Abeno, reluctantly helps Hanae but demands payment afterward. Much to Hanae's dismay, he cannot afford the fee and must become an employee at the Mononokean to work off his debt. And to make things worse, his new boss is actually one of his classmates. If Hanae ever hopes to settle his debt, he must work together with Abeno to guide a variety of dangerous, strange, and interesting youkai back to the Underworld. Not a fan of youkai, and this anime is not making an effort to keep interest.   Overall Rating: 6/10

26. Fate/kaleid liner Prisma☆Illya 3rei!! Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya 3rei!! Fate/kaleid liner プリズマ☆イリヤ 3rei!! [SILVER LINK.] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Mahou Shoujo Action, Comedy, Fantasy Waking up to find herself in a parallel version of Fuyuki City, Illyasviel "Illya" von Einzbern is lost and alone. She discovers her home in ruins, with a massive crater lying in the center of her hometown. With snow falling in the middle of summer, confusion consumes the young elementary schooler, who has no knowledge of where her friends or her wand Ruby may be. Making it to the remains of her house, she is suddenly tackled by an amnesiac girl. Wearing a gym uniform as the icy temperature sets in, the mysterious girl has no idea of where she is or why she showed up. However, this stranger, known as Tanaka, apparently has information about the location of Rin Toosaka, Miyu Edelfelt, and the rest of Illya's missing friends. Fleeing from agents of the Ainsworth family⁠—those in control of this parallel realm—where will these two end up, and how will Illya restore the present back to the world she once knew? Sequel.   Overall Rating: 5/10

27. Hatsukoi Monster First Love Monster 初恋モンスター [Studio Deen] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Shoujo School Comedy, Romance Freshman Kaho Nikaidou is from an influential family, and as such, no one has ever said anything even remotely mean to her, for fear of incurring her household's wrath. Wishing to be around people who will not treat her as special because of her background, she leaves home to live at a dormitory for her new school year. Shortly after arriving, Kaho accidentally wanders into traffic and is saved by a tall, handsome stranger. When she asks for his name, he tells her she is weird and walks away. Having finally met the only person to ever say an unkind word to her, Kaho falls head over heels for her savior. After meeting her rescuer yet again and discovering that his name is Kanade Takahashi, she confesses her love to him. Kanade says he would like for them to be a couple, but that Kaho may not want to date him after she finds out his secret. To her shock, Kaho discovers the startling truth: Kanade is a fifth grader! Deciding that she can't date a fifth grader, Kaho intends to break up with him. But as she spends more time with Kanade, she begins to care for him even more and continues dating him. Hatsukoi Monster follows Kaho's first steps into love with Kanade, her immature, yet kind, fifth grade boyfriend. Reverse harem is not marked properly. Again.   Overall Rating: 5/10

28. Amanchu! あまんちゅ！ [J.C.Staff] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Shounen Iyashikei, School Slice of Life Originally from a big city, Futaba Ooki spends most days cataloguing her life through pictures on her phone. Upon moving to a seaside town, she gazes out over the vast expanse of sea and quickly becomes captivated by its endless possibilities. Unbeknownst to Futaba, her quiet contemplation catches the attention of local diving enthusiast Hikari Kohinata. Finding herself in the same class as Futaba the next day, Hikari is drawn to her quiet and shy demeanor and affectionately nicknames her Teko, sparking a tender friendship. Struggling to adapt to the change of pace in her life, Futaba finds herself strung along by Hikari's vast energy and passion for diving. Together, they join the school diving club, led by their homeroom teacher Mato Katori. With Hikari by her side, Futaba works to earn her diving certification while experiencing new friendships and possibilities. A normal girly SOL with attempts into comedy and with completely out of place Iyashikei. It gets really repetitive and boring.   Overall Rating: 5/10

29. Cheer Danshi!! Cheer Boys!! チア男子!! [Brain's Base] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Adult Cast, Performing Arts Sports After suffering from a shoulder injury, shy first-year university student Haruki Bandou gladly takes the opportunity to give up judo, failing to find happiness in the sport regardless of his family owning a dojo. He did not expect, however, that his best friend Kazuma Hashimoto would also decide to leave their university's judo club at the same time as him. Despite Haruki's protests, Kazuma already has plans for a new and revolutionary activity: a cheerleading team made up of only men. Although heavily reluctant, Haruki ends up helping his friend set up the team. Through sheer determination, and with support from their newfound club members, Haruki and Kazuma persist in founding the Breakers, the first ever all-male cheerleading team of Meishiin University, slowly making history in spite of the feminine tag attached to the sport of cheerleading and the prejudices, physical challenges, and self-doubts that inevitably follow. I'd block all that cheerful boys SOL if there was a suitable tag for it.   Overall Rating: 5/10

30. Ange Vierge アンジュ・ヴィエルジュ [SILVER LINK., Connect] (Finished 3/12) Tags: School Adventure, Fantasy The story of the card game follows what happens when "Hairou" portals suddenly open, fusing five different worlds together. As a result, various mysterious "Exceed" powers are awakened in teenaged girls. An academy for these so-called "Progress" girls is built on the isolated Seiran Island in the Pacific. Superpower girls who need stimulation is such a banal concept that I'm surprised what all these silly ecchi even hope for.   Overall Rating: 5/10

31. Battery バッテリー [Zero-G] (Finished 1/11) Tags: Drama, Sports At only 12 years old, Takumi Harada is already hailed as a prodigious baseball pitcher. But when his family moves to the backwater town of Nitta, Takumi has no choice but to join his new school's unskilled baseball team. This development has little effect on the boy, as he believes it is more interesting if this no-name club becomes a powerhouse due to his presence. However, due to his overwhelming talent, Takumi is in need of a catcher able to keep up with his pitches. His worries are soon put to rest after meeting Gou Nagakura. As his fan and fellow student, Gou is eager to prove that he is not a simple braggart, but rather a player skillful enough to catch Takumi's pitches. Amid struggling to form a "battery" with Gou, Takumi comes into conflict with his new teammates due to his irreverent personality but grapples to find the true joy of the sport under his grandfather's guidance. Baseball spokon, so I could not care less.   Overall Rating: 5/10

32. Regalia: The Three Sacred Stars レガリア The Three Sacred Stars [Actas] (Finished 3/13) Tags: Mecha Action, Sci-Fi In the kingdom of Rimgarde, two mysterious giant robots begin a duel that erases nearly all human life before they disappear. Twelve years later, the young empress of Enastoria, Yuinshiel Asteria, works tirelessly to maintain both her authority and the support of her citizens. But the peace of Enastoria is threatened when survivors of Rimgarde arrive. Armed with giant robots called Regalia Gear, they look for Yuinshiel's adopted sister, Rena. The latter is forced to reveal herself as not just a Regalia Gear wielder, but a real "Regalia"—a human capable of transforming into a giant robot—and the culprit behind the fall of Rimgarde. Suddenly caught up in an international dispute, Yuinshiel must preserve the security of her country while also protecting Rena from those who wish to abuse her powers. However, by fighting for her sister, Yuinshiel risks triggering the same calamity that once destroyed Rimgarde. Amid such a precarious situation, the two girls push their bond to its limits as they fight not only for themselves but for the world's safety as well. Just little girls fighting in mecha, not much sense in all this.   Overall Rating: 5/10

33. Binan Koukou Chikyuu Bouei-bu LOVE! LOVE! Cute High Earth Defense Club LOVE! LOVE! 美男高校地球防衛部LOVE！LOVE！ [Studio Comet] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Parody, School Comedy After pulling the plug on the space reality TV show "Can I Destroy the Earth? 2," the Defense Club and the Conquest Club return to their peaceful high school lives. Time has passed since that fearsome battle, and it's now autumn. The five Defense Club members have stopped serving as the Battle Lovers, and are enjoying a soak in the Kurotama Bath like always, when the Conquest Club broaches a subject that will change a great deal about events to come... Sequel.   Overall Rating: 5/10

34. Active Raid: Kidou Kyoushuushitsu Dai Hachi Gakari 2nd Active Raid Second アクティヴレイド　－機動強襲室第八係－ 2nd [Production IMS] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Adult Cast, Mecha Action, Sci-Fi Set in a part of Tokyo that has descended into a quagmire, the story follows Unit 8 of the 5th Special Public Security Section's 3rd Mobile Assault Division, popularly called "The Eighth," who don powered armor "Willwear" exoskeletons to counter the rise in crime. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 5/10

35. Time Travel Shoujo: Mari Waka to 8-nin no Kagakusha-tachi Time Travel Girl タイムトラベル少女～マリ・ワカと8人の科学者たち～ [WAO World] (Finished 2/12) Tags: Time Travel Adventure, Sci-Fi Time Travel Shoujo is based on a 1983 book titled Jishaku to Denki no Hatsumei Hakken Monogatari by Japanese educator Kiyonobu Itakura. It is part of the Hatsumei Hakken Monogatari Zenshuu series which describes the story of various scientific discoveries and inventions throughout history. The 1983 book focuses on discoveries related to magnetism and electricity. Can't appreciate SOL about past epoch, especially about inventions like Tesla etc, so it's not for me, but at least something unusual.   Overall Rating: 6/10

36. Mahou Shoujo? Naria☆Girls Mahou Shoujo? Naria Girls 魔法少女? なりあ☆がーるず [Bouncy] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Mahou Shoujo After the Ice Queen brings eternal winter to the land of Nariadia, the only hope to restore balance is to gather human warriors and give them the power of Naria crystals. For this reason, Animaru has chosen the middle schoolers Urara, Inaho, and Hanabi as warriors. The girls, however, are much more focused on mocking the events happening around them and trying to earn money as idols. When the Ice Queen's familiars appear, they use the "Ice Mirror" to trick the girls into performing ridiculous skits. Will Urara, Inaho, and Hanabi ever step up and embrace their roles as magical girls, or will their antics prove too distracting to themselves? CGI empty talk.   Overall Rating: 4/10

37. Quanzhi Fashi Full-Time Magister 全职法师 [Foch Films] (Finished 12/12) Tags: School Action, Fantasy The aloof high schooler Mo Fan has found himself in a universe similar yet distinctly different from his own mundane one; it is a place where magic has replaced the essence of science. Here, the most capable students are taught to master the wonders of spellworking to fend off large devastating beasts that lurk in the forests surrounding the city. Like his previous life, Mo Fan remains the son of a poor laborer and the older step-brother to a crippled sister. Despite these disadvantages, he dreams of attending a magic school to become a magician—a highly respected and lucrative trade—in order to repay his father for his hard work. Mo Fan is accepted into a renowned magic institution. However, rumors spread about his poverty and lack of magical ability, labeling him as the laughing stock of the school. Nonetheless, Mo Fan manages to harness not only the powerful fire element, but also the rare lightning element! Now armed with dual abilities, what dangerous encounters will the versatile mage face? It has its flaws as Chinese shorter length ONA compared to normal episodes, but the vibe of "Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon" is here. Basically, there is potential, but with such slow pace there has not been anything worthwhile in the first season. I'll keep watching further, but what we have by this point definitely can't be called any kind of masterpiece.   Overall Rating: 6/10

38. Shuangsheng Lingtan Twin Spirit Detectives 双生灵探 [B.CMAY PICTURES] (Finished 1/20) Tags: Psychological Mystery There is always more to the world than meets the eye. This is the motto that twin brothers Sun Xiaotu and Sun Xiaohu follow in their lives as paranormal investigators, where what may be terrifying to some is just another day at work. Normally, it is simple for them to separate their daily lives from their job, but when they go to investigate a seemingly typical haunting of a pair of twins, a series of bizarre events throw their perception of the supernatural world into question as they become a target of the hauntings themselves. The further the brothers search for answers to the paranormal mysteries thrown at them, the hazier the lines between truth and fiction become. Through the challenging and sometimes dangerous adventures ahead, one question remains: what kind of secrets are the ghosts trying to hide from them, and are they already more connected to the spirits than they originally thought? Mystery spirit detectives is the royal flash of red flags for me. Don't see much sense in this.   Overall Rating: 5/10

39. Zhanguo Fan The Seven Warring States Fan 战国FAN [2:10 AM Animation] (Finished 1/15) Tags: Martial Arts, Super Power Fantasy - Not translated. Full CGI wuxia, and that's more than enough for me to stop.   Overall Rating: 5/10

40. Mahoutsukai no Yome: Hoshi Matsu Hito The Ancient Magus' Bride: Those Awaiting a Star 魔法使いの嫁 星待つひと [Wit Studio] (Finished 3/3) Tags: Shounen Drama, Fantasy  Angelica sends Chise some magic supplies including a present. The present turns out to be a book Chise read in her childhood. Elias asks Chise to tell him the story behind the book. Chise tells him about Miura-san and the mysterious library she found in the forest as a child. Pretentious slow pseudo-philosophical romanticized mess.   Overall Rating: 6/10

41. Under the Dog  [Kinema Citrus, Orange] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Action, Sci-Fi, Suspense The year is 2025. Five years have passed since the Tokyo Olympic Games were called off after deadly terrorist attacks. An international school run by the United Nations now stands in the former Olympic site on the edge of Tokyo Bay. Seven teenagers with special abilities, known as "Flowers," are among the students. Their student identities are only a cover for their real identities as members of an intelligence organization run by the UN. Their objective is to assassinate other teenagers who have the same abilities. The Flowers have no choice but to complete their missions without fail. Their organization has taken their family members hostage to ensure this. For the Flowers, failure would mean death not only for themselves but also for their loved ones. This is the story of their struggle against cruel fate, and of how it is human nature to find hope, however bleak the outlook. It's only 30 minutes long. Don't think survival reaction story was worth the croudfunding.   Overall Rating: 6/10

42. Kimi no Na wa. Your Name. 君の名は。 [CoMix Wave Films] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Romantic Subtext Award Winning, Drama, Supernatural Mitsuha Miyamizu, a high school girl, yearns to live the life of a boy in the bustling city of Tokyo—a dream that stands in stark contrast to her present life in the countryside. Meanwhile in the city, Taki Tachibana lives a busy life as a high school student while juggling his part-time job and hopes for a future in architecture. One day, Mitsuha awakens in a room that is not her own and suddenly finds herself living the dream life in Tokyo—but in Taki's body! Elsewhere, Taki finds himself living Mitsuha's life in the humble countryside. In pursuit of an answer to this strange phenomenon, they begin to search for one another. Kimi no Na wa. revolves around Mitsuha and Taki's actions, which begin to have a dramatic impact on each other's lives, weaving them into a fabric held together by fate and circumstance. Whispering, body swap, time shift, youthful bashfulness, long-distance relations, different dimensions travel, amnesia, death, basically suicide attempt - You Name throws at viewers all kinds of immature crap, so I'm very disappointed with the audience that can like it. Makes me so angry.   Overall Rating: 6/10

43. Koe no Katachi A Silent Voice 聲の形 [Kyoto Animation] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Shounen Romantic Subtext Award Winning, Drama As a wild youth, elementary school student Shouya Ishida sought to beat boredom in the cruelest ways. When the deaf Shouko Nishimiya transfers into his class, Shouya and the rest of his class thoughtlessly bully her for fun. However, when her mother notifies the school, he is singled out and blamed for everything done to her. With Shouko transferring out of the school, Shouya is left at the mercy of his classmates. He is heartlessly ostracized all throughout elementary and middle school, while teachers turn a blind eye. Now in his third year of high school, Shouya is still plagued by his wrongdoings as a young boy. Sincerely regretting his past actions, he sets out on a journey of redemption: to meet Shouko once more and make amends. Koe no Katachi tells the heartwarming tale of Shouya's reunion with Shouko and his honest attempts to redeem himself, all while being continually haunted by the shadows of his past. Again disabled people in cringy situations. I don't see likeable characters here.   Overall Rating: 6/10

44. Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV [Square Enix Visual Works] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Action  For years, the Niflheim Empire and the kingdom of Lucis have been at war. The empire, having dominated most of the world of Eos, covets the power of the last known Crystal, which is held in Lucis' capital city, Insomnia. In order to protect his people from these advancing forces, King Regis Lucis Caelum CXIII used the power of the Crystal to surround Insomnia with a magical wall. Along with this barrier, Regis assembled an elite military task force known as the Kingsglaive. By drawing their power from the king, the Kingsglaive protect Lucis' borders from the onslaught of the empire and other forces that would do them harm. One such member of the Kingsglaive is Nyx, a man nicknamed "The Hero" by his fellow warriors due to his arrogance and desire to save everyone. However, his pride gets the better of him, causing him to disobey his captain's orders, resulting in a demotion. Now, Nyx spends his days guarding the city gates, but things begin to change once word gets out that Regis plans to sign a peace treaty with their sworn enemies. Good flashy action movie with ill looking Luna Freya. Can't say it was enjoyable for me though as there's neither good story nor decent character interaction - just flashy chaos.   Overall Rating: 6/10

45. Da Yu Hai Tang (Movie) Big Fish & Begonia 大鱼海棠 [B&T] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Adventure, Drama, Romance, Supernatural  In an old mythical world, there reside spirit-like beings who oversee the natural order of the mortal realm. One of them, a young girl named Chun, has just come of age and must undergo her rite of passage by experiencing the human world for herself. While there, she gets caught in a fishing net during a storm and is rescued by a human boy. However, the boy ends up drowning during the incident, and Chun returns to her realm full of guilt. Afterwards, she meets the Soul Keeper and decides to revive the boy in exchange for a part of her lifespan. Little does she know, meddling with the natural order of the world has severe consequences. Da Yu Hai Tang is a story about sacrifice and redemption as Chun comes to terms with the limitations of her powers and deals with death, love, and her own emotions. She must decide if she will sacrifice everything to save the human boy or forsake her moral obligation for the order of the world. I see it as another Ghibli imitator. Youkai, magic, animals - all is here. Poor characters, hasty drama, weak story.   Overall Rating: 6/10

46. Seoul-yeok Seoul Station 서울역 [Studio Dadashow] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Horror, Suspense  Several groups of people try to survive a zombie pandemic that unleashes itself in downtown Seoul. Trashy zombie horror, nothing special.   Overall Rating: 5/10

47. Kaze no You ni 風のように [Ekura Animal] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Drama, Slice of Life Sanpei is a boy beekeeper and the sole survivor of an accident that killed his entire family. Sanpei meets Chiyo, a girl who gets stung by a bee, and starts a new life in her village. Eventually, Sanpei cultivates the land that the villagers had abandoned, and then disappears. In the land now filled with flowers, Chiyo waits, believing Sanpei will return. Simple SOL in retro style as if from 60s.   Overall Rating: 5/10

48. Kai: Geoul Hosu-ui Jeonseol Kai: The Legend of Mirror Lake 카이: 거울 호수의 전설 [Studio Dadashow] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Adventure, Fantasy Kai: Geoul Hosu-ui Jeonseol is an adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen in a central Asian setting. In the grasslands of Central Asia, a brother and sister, Kai and Shamui are running through a snow-covered mountain and being chased by wolves. Suddenly, they get swept away by a massive avalanche, and only Kai gets rescued by their mother and the tribe. Shamui is lost in the icy lake of the notorious Snow Queen, Hattan. Just Korean extended version of fairy tale. I'm not fond of this genre.   Overall Rating: 6/10

49. Jue Ji L.O.R.D: Legend of Ravaging Dynasties 爵跡 [Original Force] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Adventure, Fantasy  The Odin Mainland is separated into four countries, in each lives a group of soul masters protecting their county with their soul powers. The most powerful seven of them are known as Noble Lords. The story begins in the water origin, the Aslan Empire. Qi Ling has been a busboy in an inn since young and subconsciously tamed a legendary soul beast, Ice Fang in a battle between soul masters. Yin Chen (Kris Wu) came on orders of the Silver Priest to take him in as his disciple. With his help, Qi Ling heads to the Grave of the Souls to seek his soul weapon, yet as he couldn’t sit still like how his lord instructed him; he enters the Grave of the Souls with Tianshu You Hua and Guishan Lian Quan. Qi Ling thus become embroiled in the upcoming storm; a battle of soul powers between the lords. At the very same time, another conspiracy that has long been in the works within the Aslan Empire is gradually revealing itself. While searching for Qi Ling, Yin Chen found out that his master, the former 1st lord Gilgamesh may still be living, and thus risked his everything to began the search of his previous master. At the same time, the killing lords You Ming and Thalia received the silver priest's orders to kill Guishan Lian Quan and her brother, Guishen Feng Hun. A battle between the lords and disciples, in a fight for truth and honor, thus ensues. Some kind of Lord of the Rings imitation in my opinion, but with Korean flavor and spiritual pets. Feels alien to me.   Overall Rating: 6/10

Share this: