Anime of the Year 2018-III Summer - Angolmois: Genkou Kassenki

Angolmois: Genkou Kassenki is pretty enjoyable for me, so as usual in such case can rate sequel Shingeki no Kyojin Season 3 lower. Other great titles are Overlord III and - surprisingly - Mo Dao Zu Shi .

1. Shingeki no Kyojin Season 3 Attack on Titan Season 3 進撃の巨人 Season3 [Wit Studio] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Shounen Gore, Military, Survival Action, Drama, Suspense Still threatened by the "Titans" that rob them of their freedom, mankind remains caged inside the two remaining walls. Efforts to eradicate these monsters continue; however, threats arise not only from the Titans beyond the walls, but from the humans within them as well. After being rescued from the Colossal and Armored Titans, Eren Yaeger devotes himself to improving his Titan form. Krista Lenz struggles to accept the loss of her friend, Captain Levi chooses Eren and his friends to form his new personal squad, and Commander Erwin Smith recovers from his injuries. All seems well for the soldiers, until the government suddenly demands custody of Eren and Krista. The Survey Corps' recent successes have drawn attention, and a familiar face from Levi's past is sent to collect the wanted soldiers. Sought after by the government, Levi and his new squad must evade their adversaries in hopes of keeping Eren and Krista safe. Eren and his fellow soldiers are not only fighting for their survival against the terrifying Titans, but also against the terror of a far more conniving foe: their fellow humans. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 8/10

2. Overlord III  [Madhouse] (Finished 1/13) Tags: Isekai Action, Adventure, Fantasy  Following the horrific assault on the Re-Estize capital city, the Guardians of the Great Tomb of Nazarick return home to their master Ainz Ooal Gown. After months of laying the groundwork, they are finally ready to set their plans of world domination into action. As Ainz's war machine gathers strength, the rest of the world keeps moving. The remote Carne Village, which Ainz once saved from certain doom, continues to prosper despite the many threats on its doorstep. And in the northeastern Baharuth Empire, a certain Bloody Emperor sets his sights on the rising power of Nazarick. Blood is shed, heroes fall, and nations rise. Can anyone, or anything, challenge the supreme power of Ainz Ooal Gown? Sequel.   Overall Rating: 7/10

3. Banana Fish  [MAPPA] (Finished 3/24) Tags: Shoujo Delinquents, Organized Crime, Psychological Action, Adventure, Drama, Suspense Aslan Jade Callenreese, known as Ash Lynx, was a runaway picked off the streets of New York City and raised by the infamous godfather of the mafia, Dino Golzine. Now 17 years old and the boss of his own gang, Ash begins investigating the mysterious "Banana Fish"—the same two words his older brother, Griffin, has muttered since his return from the Iraq War. However, his inquiries are hindered when Dino sends his men after Ash at an underground bar he uses as a hideout. At the bar, Skip, Ash's friend, introduces him to Shunichi Ibe and his assistant, Eiji Okumura, who are Japanese photographers reporting on American street gangs. However, their conversation is interrupted when Shorter Wong, one of Ash's allies, calls to warn him about Dino. Soon, Dino's men storm the bar, and in the ensuing chaos kidnap Skip and Eiji. Now, Ash must find a way to rescue them and continue his investigation into Banana Fish, but will his history with the mafia prevent him from succeeding? There's so much boys love references and themes that this tag must be present here. Thus it should not even make it in my list.   Overall Rating: 5/10

4. Grand Blue Grand Blue Dreaming ぐらんぶる [Zero-G] (Finished 1/12) ags: Seinen Adult Cast Comedy Iori Kitahara moves to the coastal town of Izu for his freshman year at its university, taking residence above Grand Blue, his uncle's scuba diving shop. Iori has high hopes and dreams about having the ideal college experience, but when he enters the shop he is sucked into the alcoholic activities of the carefree members of the Diving Club who frequent the place. Persuaded by upperclassmen Shinji Tokita and Ryuujirou Kotobuki, Iori reluctantly joins their bizarre party. His cousin Chisa Kotegawa later walks in and catches him in the act, earning Iori her utter disdain. Based on Kenji Inoue and Kimitake Yoshioka's popular comedy manga, Grand Blue follows Iori's misadventures with his eccentric new friends as he strives to realize his ideal college dream, while also learning how to scuba dive. Silly youth romcom akin to Green Green, but also with a very weird tilt into exhibitionism.   Overall Rating: 5/10

5. Isekai Maou to Shoukan Shoujo no Dorei Majutsu How Not to Summon a Demon Lord 異世界魔王と召喚少女の奴隷魔術 [Ajia-do] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Harem, Isekai Action, Fantasy, Ecchi When it comes to the fantasy MMORPG Cross Reverie, none can match the power of the Demon King Diablo. Possessing the game's rarest artifacts and an unrivaled player level, he overpowers all foolish enough to confront him. But despite his fearsome reputation, Diablo's true identity is Takuma Sakamoto, a shut-in gamer devoid of any social skills. Defeating hopeless challengers day by day, Takuma cares about nothing else but his virtual life—that is, until a summoning spell suddenly transports him to another world where he has Diablo's appearance! In this new world resembling his favorite game, Takuma is greeted by the two girls who summoned him: Rem Galeu, a petite Pantherian adventurer, and Shera L. Greenwood, a busty Elf summoner. They perform an Enslavement Ritual in an attempt to subjugate him, but the spell backfires and causes them to become his slaves instead. With the situation now becoming more awkward than ever, Takuma decides to accompany the girls in finding a way to unbind their contract while learning to adapt to his new existence as the menacing Demon King. It's just KonoSuba variation with more focus on H... nothing really great.   Overall Rating: 6/10

6. Satsuriku no Tenshi Angels of Death 殺戮の天使 [J.C.Staff] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Gore, Psychological Adventure, Horror, Suspense With dead and lifeless eyes, Rachel Gardner wishes only to die. Waking up in the basement of a building, she has no idea how or why she's there. She stumbles across a bandaged murderer named Zack, who is trying to escape. After promising to kill her as soon as he is free, Rachel and Zack set out to ascend through the building floor by floor until they escape. However, as they progress upward, they meet more twisted people, and all of them seem familiar with Rachel. What is her connection to the building, and why was she placed in it? Facing a new boss on each floor, can Rachel and Zack both achieve their wishes? I don't value survival suspense horrors highly. Concept is unusual and the whole thing is more or less watchable. Still don't find it appealing in any way.   Overall Rating: 6/10

7. Hataraku Saibou Cells at Work! はたらく細胞 [David Production] (Finished 1/13) Tags: Shounen Anthropomorphic, Educational, Medical Comedy Inside the human body, roughly 37.2 trillion cells work energetically 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. Fresh out of training, the cheerful and somewhat airheaded Sekkekkyuu AE3803 is ready to take on the ever-so-important task of transporting oxygen. As usual, Hakkekkyuu U-1146 is hard at work patrolling and eliminating foreign bacteria seeking to make the body their new lair. Elsewhere, little platelets are lining up for a new construction project. Dealing with wounds and allergies, getting lost on the way to the lungs, and bickering with similar cell types, the daily lives of cells are always hectic as they work together to keep the body healthy! This is too ridiculous to take with any seriousness. Not finding it funny at all for a pure comedy as well, more like weird parody with needless SOL elements. Overall Rating: 5/10

8. Asobi Asobase Asobi Asobase - workshop of fun - あそびあそばせ [Lerche] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Seinen Gag Humor, School Comedy During recess, Olivia, a foreign transfer student who doesn't know English, plays a game of "look-the-other-way" with Hanako Honda, a loud-mouthed airhead. Their rowdy behavior spurs the ire of Kasumi Nomura, a deadpan loner constantly teased by her older sister for her tendency to lose games. Not willing to compete, Kasumi declines Olivia's offer to join the fun, but eventually gets involved anyway and dispenses her own brand of mischief. Soon, a strange friendship blossoms between the peculiar trio, and they decide to form the "Pastime Club," where they are free to resume their daily hijinks. Whether it be failing to learn English, trying desperately to become popular, or getting caught by teachers at the wrong time, school life will never be boring when the girls of Asobi Asobase are up to their hilarious antics. Random comedy that again tries to build upon a blond girl from England who does not speak English well - hello Strawberry Marshmallow. And comparison is totally not in favor of Asobi Asobase. Did not find this fooling around pleasant.   Overall Rating: 6/10

9. Happy Sugar Life ハッピーシュガーライフ [Ezόla] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Shounen Gore, Psychological Drama, Girls Love, Horror Satou Matsuzaka is a beautiful high schooler who has a reputation for being permissive with men. However, a chance encounter with a young girl named Shio Koube makes Satou realize that this is her first and only true feeling of love. Telling others that she lives with her aunt, Satou secretly shares an apartment with Shio. Despite her innocent appearance, Satou is willing to do anything to protect her beloved, resorting to desperate measures to ensure that their "happy sugar life" remains intact. Basically, horror anime about despair and abuse. Not sure what to like here.   Overall Rating: 5/10

10. Yuragi-sou no Yuuna-san Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs ゆらぎ荘の幽奈さん [Xebec] (Finished 2/12) Tags: Shounen Harem Comedy, Romance, Supernatural, Ecchi Once a hot springs inn, now a boarding house with extraordinarily cheap rent, Yuragi-sou is virtually uninhabited save for a few peculiar residents. As rumor has it, it is haunted by a vile ghost which scares away all potential tenants. Therefore, it is the perfect refuge for Fuyuzora Kogarashi—a broke, homeless psychic seeking an affordable roof to stay under and ghosts to exorcise. Kogarashi prepares for a face-off against the ghost, only to find out it is not as malicious as the rumors made it out to be. Instead, it is the ghost of a beautiful, silver-haired girl whose only recollection of her life before death is her name: Yuuna. Even more baffling is that the other tenants of Yuragi-sou not only are able to see Yuuna as well, but each has their own supernatural ability. Amidst the chaos caused by his quirky fellow residents, Kogarashi attempts to uncover the regret that keeps Yuuna anchored to the world of the living, lest she become an evil spirit sentenced to spend her afterlife in hell. This H ghost humor is not funny at all. And when harem kicks in, it becomes even worse.   Overall Rating: 5/10

11. High Score Girl Hi Score Girl ハイスコアガール [Comedy] (Finished 7/12) Tags: Seinen Love Polygon, Romantic Subtext, School, Video Game The year is 1991, and arcade video games are the latest craze. Becoming a professional gamer is a far-fetched dream in an industry that has yet to spread its influence. Yet, that is the path sixth-grader Haruo Yaguchi wants to pursue. His aptitude for video games has earned him respect in local arcades and bestowed him with confidence and pride, both of which are shattered when fellow classmate Akira Oono easily defeats him in Street Fighter 2. Akira is rich, pretty, and smart—as close as can be to a perfect girl. But Haruo had never cared about these things as, despite his multiple shortcomings as a person, his supremacy in video games was, in his mind, undisputed. So, now that someone has appeared who can rival him, part of Haruo cannot help but loathe her. Another part, however, itches for somebody who can compete with him on equal terms, and Akira is more than capable. Simple visuals with CGI and retro gaming tilt that I'm not fond of. There aren't great characters either. It has some nice moments and music, but can't call it a masterpiece.   Overall Rating: 6/10

12. Sirius Sirius the Jaeger 天狼〈シリウス〉 Sirius the Jaeger [P.A. Works] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Historical, Vampire  Action, Supernatural In the year 1930, vampires have infiltrated Tokyo to feast upon its unsuspecting citizens. As the number of victims continues to rise, the city's authorities decide to hire the Jaegers—a strange, diverse group of individuals tasked by the V Shipping Company to hunt down vampires around the world. Carrying musical instrument cases to disguise their identity, the Jaegers battle the vampires with the same mercilessness demonstrated by their foes. Yuliy, the Jaeger's most skilled warrior, is the sole survivor of a vampire raid on his home village. Using the strength granted by his werewolf blood, he works with his team to assist Tokyo's law enforcement with the city's vampire problem. Though under the pretense of helping the police, the Jaegers are actually fighting the vampires over the mystical Ark of Sirius. With its power to change the fate of the world, Yuliy and his friends must locate the artifact before the vampires can use it to achieve their destructive goals. P.A.Works scenarist is mediocre, so it's again a boring stories in some kind of retro futuristic setting. I wish they were taking real stories and not making originals if they suck at it.   Overall Rating: 6/10

13. Gintama.: Shirogane no Tamashii-hen - Kouhan-sen Gintama.: Silver Soul Arc - Second Half War 銀魂. 銀ノ魂篇 後半戦 [Bandai Namco Pictures] (Finished 14/14) Tags: Shounen Gag Humor, Historical, Parody, Samurai Action, Comedy, Sci-Fi Following the temporary retreat of the Altana Liberation Army from the Kabuki District, the state of the war has seemingly improved. However, as the Oniwaban, Shinsengumi, and residents of the district combat the army's remnants, Edo's greatest inventor Gengai Hiraga is abducted. Responsible for causing the enemy's withdrawal by rendering their weapons useless, Gengai's nanomachine virus is now at risk of being shut down. Meanwhile, a laser capable of obliterating a planet is activated in Earth's orbit on the Liberation Army's mother ship. Another battle ensues when Shinsuke Takasugi and the rest of the Kiheitai arrive on the vessel to stop the weapon from firing. Forced to fight a war on two fronts, the Yorozuya and their allies must prevail on both sides to save Edo and the rest of the world. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

14. Hyakuren no Haou to Seiyaku no Valkyria The Master of Ragnarok & Blesser of Einherjar 百錬の覇王と聖約の戦乙女〈ヴァルキュリア〉 [EMT Squared] (Finished 2/12) Tags: Harem, Isekai, Military Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Romance Some urban legends are best left untested! Yuuto Suou gets more than he bargained for when he joins his childhood friend Mitsuki Shimoya in testing out an urban legend. When he uses his phone to take a picture of himself with the local shrine's divine mirror, he is whisked off into another world—one heavily steeped in the lore of the old Norse myths. Using his knowledge gained from school and from his solar-powered smartphone, he has the chance to bring the Wolf Clan, the same people who cared for him, to prominence, all while earning the adoration of a group of magic-wielding warrior maidens known as the Einherjar. Casual isekai akin to In Another World With My Smartphone. Hell, MC even phones to his real imouto in real world while gathering a harem of exotic imoutos.   Overall Rating: 5/10

15. Free! Dive to the Future  [Kyoto Animation, Animation Do] (Finished 1/12) Tags: School Sports With the seniors having graduated from high school, the determined swimmers eagerly take on their futures with a dream to fulfill. Now attending Hidaka University in Tokyo, Haruka Nanase unexpectedly runs into Shiina Asahi, an old teammate and friend from his middle school days. Consequently, the troubling memories regarding his middle school swim team resurface, as it was a time when Haruka's views on swimming became negative and led him to quit the team. Haruka later reconnects with his other middle school classmates; all except for Ikuya Kirishima, who still resents Haruka for quitting the team, resulting in its disbandment. Aware of the issues between them, Haruka resolves to improve his friendship with Ikuya. However, he quickly realizes that making amends with an old friend isn't his only obstacle. Facing the reality and challenges of encountering higher calibre swimmers, Haruka must work hard to establish himself if he dreams of competing on an international level. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 5/10

16. Hanebado! はねバド！ [LIDENFILMS] (Finished 2/13) Tags: Seinen School Sports After her crushing defeat of 21-0 at the National Junior Badminton Tournament, Nagisa Aragaki's love for her sport begins to distort. Unable to deal with the shame of loss, she starts to terrorize the mkmbers of her high school badminton club. Her grueling drills bring some to the verge of tears while others quit the club outright. With the team losing members and new prospects being too terrified to join, the future of the badminton club looks exceptionally grim. That is, until Kentarou Tachibana joins as the new head coach. Not only is he an Olympic-level player, but he also comes bearing a secret weapon: Ayano Hanesaki, the girl who defeated Nagisa six months ago. However, Ayano is not the rival Nagisa remembers, but a girl with conflicted feelings wanting to distance herself from badminton. With her future in sports now on the line, Nagisa must find a way to face her fears of inadequacy, heal her rival's troubled heart, and bring victory to Kitakomachi High School's badminton club. Slightly better spokon than usual, but still alien to me.   Overall Rating: 6/10

17. Back Street Girls: Gokudolls Back Street Girls: Gokudols Back Street Girls -ゴクドルズ [J.C.Staff] (Finished 3/10) Tags: Seinen Magical Sex Shift, Organized Crime, Workplace Comedy, Ecchi After failing their boss for the last time, yakuza members Kentarou, Ryou, and Kazuhiko are faced with one of two choices: have their organs harvested and sold or take a trip to Thailand for sex reassignment surgery and become pop idols. Now, after a year of excruciating training, the three thugs have been reborn as Airi, Chika, and Mari. Debuting as the amateur idol group The Goku Dolls, the three strive towards becoming top idols. However, despite the hours of feminizing brainwashing they were forced to endure, the three idols have managed to keep the yakuza spirit alive in their hearts. In order to fix this, their yakuza boss hires  andarin Kinoshita, a legendary manager who has never had an idol group fail under his mnagement. With their lives now on the line, the reluctant yakuza must work with their new manager to unleash their inner cuteness and become the successful idols that their tyrannical boss can truly be proud of. Yakuza turning into idol girls is a silly idea, and realization is on par - low quality and trashy humor. Overall Rating: 6/10

18. Sunohara-sou no Kanrinin-san Miss Caretaker of Sunohara-sou すのはら荘の管理人さん [SILVER LINK.] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Harem Comedy, Ecchi  Shiina Aki is constantly being treated like a girl due to his feminine looks so he decides to move to Tokyo to attend middle school in an attempt to change himself. However, what awaits him in his new home, Sunohara-sou, is the kind-hearted caretaker, Sunohara Ayaka. Along with the three female members of Aki's new middle school's student council, Yukimoto Yuzu, Yamanashi Sumire, and Kazami Yuri. And so begins Aki's new life in Tokyo living with four girls. Ecchi harem is terrible as usual.   Overall Rating: 5/10

19. Shichisei no Subaru Seven Senses of the Re'Union 七星のスバル  [Lerche] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Video Game Action, Drama, Fantasy  Asahi's life in reality ended simultaneously when she died playing Union, a world-renowned online RPG. The members of Subaru went separate ways when Union shut down due to Asahi's death. Six years later, Haruto logs onto a renewed version of Re'Union and reunites with Asahi who had died. Is it really her or just an electronic ghost? The former team members reunite and enter the mysterious and deadly online game to find out. Inability to log out from MMO is a stale, yet effective plot move. But actual execution and characters are pretty bad. It has no originality as everything here is seen elsewhere, but there is also no logic and truth behind actions. Just streamlined generic action experience.  Overall Rating: 6/10

20. Island (TV) Island  [feel.] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Harem, Time Travel Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi On a remote island far from the mainland named Urashima, a man washes ashore, with no recollection of his name or homeland. What he does recall, however, is that he is a time traveler with a mission: to save a certain girl from harm. As nightfall arrives, he meets Rinne Ohara, a girl who sings a tune that reminds him of a specific name—Setsuna—and decides to use it as his own. Knowing another "Setsuna" herself, Rinne takes him to her household as a servant, hoping that he is the same one she remembers. On the other hand, Setsuna continues to learn more about Urashima, desiring to identify his lost past. He comes to know about the island's folklore, its three great families, and the endemic disease that prevents anyone afflicted from stepping out into the daylight. As the mysteries of his missing memories and Urashima itself unfold, Setsuna must remember his purpose and fulfill his mission as soon as possible. But, as he witnesses the myriad of troubles plaguing the island, Setsuna begins to question—is his temporal displacement merely an effort to change a single girl's fate? I really hate island for being suspense mystery time travel pseudo-intellectual harem with poor protagonist. But also for being not entirely bad. It would be better if it did not exist at all.   Overall Rating: 6/10

21. Jashin-chan Dropkick Dropkick On My Devil! 邪神ちゃんドロップキック [Diomedéa] (Finished 2/12) Tags: Seinen Comedy  For the average Japanese high school student, walking to school can be a chore, but for first-year Chio Miyamo, it's always an adventure. Constantly running late due to her long night sessions playing video games, she is forced to come up with new routes to make it to Samejima Private Academy on time. On her many bizarre journeys to school, Chio contends with obstacles like street-blocking detours, overzealous kabaddi players, and befuddled motorcycle gang leaders. But these minor hindrances are no match for the special ops training that Chio, AKA the legendary assassin "Bloody Butterfly," has received from her extensive gaming obsession. Together with her best friends Manana Nonomura and Yuki Hosokawa, Chio will do whatever it takes to avoid her school's harsh penalties for tardiness. Usual unfunny episodic nonsense comedy with all kinds of monster and celestial girls.   Overall Rating: 6/10

22. Harukana Receive はるかなレシーブ  [C2C] (Finished 2/12) Tags: Team Sports In beach volleyball, there is no room for aces. To achieve victory, each player must find their one, irreplaceable partner that they can rely on in the court of sand. At least, that is what Haruka Oozora learns on her first day in Okinawa after moving in with her grandmother and her cousin Kanata Higa. While touring a nearby beach, Haruka stumbles upon some girls practicing beach volleyball and is quickly invited to join. This friendly practice game suddenly turns into a match when one of the girls, Narumi Tooi, notices Kanata approaching the court. Although the two suffer a devastating defeat, Haruka finally realizes the reason for her cousin’s quiet and distant behavior. Kanata and Narumi used to be an exceptionally talented beach volleyball duo, until Kanata quit due to her short height causing problems for Narumi. Now, with the Junior Tournament just weeks away, Haruka must learn the intricacies of competitive beach volleyball and help Kanata overcome her crippling anxiety towards the sport that she once used to love. Fanservice spokon, with a bit of girls love. Nothing really special.   Overall Rating: 6/10

23. Shoujo☆Kageki Revue Starlight Revue Starlight 少女☆歌劇 レヴュースタァライト [Kinema Citrus] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Music, Performing Arts, School Drama As preparations begin for Seishou Music Academy's yearly Seishou Festival, the girls of the 99th class are gearing up to perform their very own rendition of Starlight, the tragic tale of two goddesses drawn together by the glow of the heavens but destined to be pulled apart, never to meet again. Created to foster the next generation of theatrical talent, this girls' only school works to improve the singing, acting, and dancing skills of its students. One student is 16-year-old Karen Aijou, an easygoing girl who has dreamed of performing on stage since she was a child. Her love for theater is further invigorated when her childhood friend Hikari Kagura transfers to Seishou Academy. Through her old friend, Karen stumbles upon a secret elevator leading to a massive theater underneath the school. Hosted by a talking giraffe, this arena serves as a battleground where her classmates participate in duels to determine who among them deserves the title of "Top Star," earning them the right to play one of the lead roles in Starlight. Emboldened by the promise she made with Hikari to someday be stars together, Karen enters these mysterious battles in the hopes of making their dream a reality. Theater school left me indifferent. But I even did not like Utena which had more story potential.   Overall Rating: 6/10

24. Fate/Extra: Last Encore - Illustrias Tendousetsu Fate/Extra: Last Encore - Illustrias Geocentric Theory Fate/EXTRA Last Encore イルステリアス天動説 [Shaft] (Finished 1/3) Tags: Action, Fantasy  After defeating the various Floor Masters of the six prior levels, Hakuno Kishinami and Saber arrive at the top floor of the Moon Cell. Their opponent will be Leonardo B. Harwey—the strongest Master in the history of the Holy Grail War and the current fan favorite, following his previous victory. As they reach a field of flowers among floating isles, Hakuno, Saber, and Rin Toosaka come across a hooded man tending to the blossoms. Saber immediately draws her blade before the cloaked figure, who reveals himself as Prince Gawain: the Platinum Saber and Knight of the Round Table. However, when Gawain insists that he has no interest in fighting, the four discuss the infinite possibilities for the Holy Grail, with Hakuno determined to return the Moon Cell to its original form. Their discussion ends with a clangor from afar, ringing through the skies. The threadbare Gawain, nowing its significance, informs the three that not much time remains for their lives. He beckons them towards the final battleground, where the two Sabers shall duel once more to determine the future of mankind. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

25. Kyoto Teramachi Sanjou no Holmes Holmes of Kyoto 京都寺町三条のホームズ [Seven] (Finished 2/12) Tags: Detective, Romantic Subtext, Workplace Drama, Mystery High schooler Aoi Mashiro moved from home six months ago, but her recent breakup has made her want to return to tell off her ex-boyfriend. In need of money for a train ticket, she steals two hanging scrolls from her grandfather's attic and takes them to be appraised at an antique shop in the heart of Kyoto's Teramachi Sanjou shopping district. Little does she know that a fateful encounter awaits her during this visit. Upon entering the shop, Aoi is greeted by Kiyotaka Yagashira, the owner's grandson and a graduate student at Kyoto University. Nicknamed "Holmes" for a pun involving his surname, as well as for his incredible deductive skills, Kiyotaka inspects the scrolls that Aoi brought with her. Based on the items she selected to sell, Kiyotaka senses that Aoi possesses great intuition not unlike his own. Seeing her potential and sympathizing with her story, Kiyotaka offers Aoi a part-time job so she can earn the required money herself. Aoi and Kiyotaka begin working together soon after—not only within the antique shop, but also around town whenever the locals ask for help with their various problems. With Kiyotaka's deduction and Aoi's intuition, no case is too tough for this modern-day Holmes and Watson duo! Josei butler detective mystery is totally alien to me.   Overall Rating: 5/10

26. Angolmois: Genkou Kassenki Angolmois: Record of Mongol Invasion アンゴルモア 元寇合戦記 [NAZ] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Historical, Military, Samurai  The year is 1274. After conquering most of the known world, the Mongols turn their sights on Japan and their first step on the road to a full invasion of the mainland is taking Tsushima Island. Kuchii Jinzaburou and a group exiles are sent by the Kamakura Shogunate to the island at the request of Princess Teruhi. There they will face overwhelming odds and the fate of Tsushima will be decided! Loving this anime. One of rare titles that I watched twice and don't mind watching another time now. That alone says that it's at least firm masterpiece for me even though I realize it's not something special as a story. Overall Rating: 8/10

27. Planet With プラネット・ウィズ [J.C.Staff] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Mecha Action, Sci-Fi According to the theories of oneiromancy, dreams of dragons represent the struggle of losing yourself to your own anger. Fittingly, Souya Kuroi wakes up from a nightmare of a massive dragon destroying everything around him in a blaze of rainbow colored light. After being told that he lost his parents and memory in a strange accident, the waking world becomes another nightmare in itself. With this dream being his only memory, he has no choice but to be taken care of by his two strange guardians: the spunky and energetic maid Ginko, and a huge cat known only as "Sensei." His new life is turned upside down when the denizens of Saromisaka City are beset by a teddy bear-shaped UFO. When military power proves to be ineffective, seven mysterious people rise up to fight off the monstrosity. These heroes destroy the invader in a flurry of rainbow colored lights, the very same lights that Souya saw in his nightmare. With the alien threat repelled, these seven strangers find themselves facing a new adversary: Souya. Swearing vengeance upon the people who decimated his old life, he begins his crusade against these "heroes" and becomes embroiled in a struggle of galactic proportions. This mecha has terrible CGI and immature content, so just uninteresting to watch for me.   Overall Rating: 6/10

28. Muhyo to Rouji no Mahouritsu Soudan Jimusho Muhyo & Roji's Bureau of Supernatural Investigation ムヒョとロージーの魔法律相談事務所 [Studio Deen] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Shounen Mythology Mystery, Supernatural  Are you a victim of unwanted spirit possession? Is there a ghost you need sent up and away...or down to burn for all eternity? If the answer is yes, then you need Muhyo and Roji, experts in magic law. Serving justice to evil spirits is their specialty. A real torture for someone who hates ghosts.   Overall Rating: 5/10

29. Phantom in the Twilight ファントム イン ザ トワイライト [LIDENFILMS] (Finished 2/12) Tags: Vampire Action, Supernatural Set in modern day London, the story takes place in a world where "Shadows" are born from human fear and anxiety. A young girl arrives to study abroad, only to be caught in a bizarre incident as she enters university. In a city with no acquaintances, the helpless girl wanders into "Café Forbidden," a mysterious café that exclusively opens at midnight. She meets an assortment of handsome men employed at the café, where guardians who protect the boundary between humans and shadow convene. It has all the elements of reverse harem, so a skip for me.   Overall Rating: 5/10

30. Lord of Vermilion: Guren no Ou Lord of Vermilion: The Crimson King ロード オブ ヴァーミリオン　紅蓮の王 [asread., Tear Studio] (Finished 12/12) Tags: Action, Fantasy  Set in Tokyo, it's January 29, 2030. High-frequency resonance is observed in the vicinity of Tokyo, and the red fog rolls into the city. Those who hear the sound, humans and animals alike, pass out, losing consciousness. Everything shuts down in Tokyo, believing that the fog is carrying an unknown virus that causes an epidemic. However, six days later, after the incident, people wake up as if nothing happened. After that, Tokyo's sealed-off city sections gradually return to normal. However, since the high-frequency resonance, some "bizarre events" start to happen, and people find themselves being pulled deeper into more mysteries. Meanwhile, young people start to become aware of themselves and release their power hidden in their blood, discovering themselves as "vessel of wisdom blood." Together, being led by something unknown, they meet, communicate, and face the unavoidable circle of fate, sacrificing their own lives. It has problem with characters, motivation and logic.   Overall Rating: 5/10

31. Chuukan Kanriroku Tonegawa Mr. Tonegawa: Middle Management Blues 中間管理録トネガワ [Madhouse] (Finished 1/24) Tags: Seinen Adult Cast, Parody, Psychological Comedy, Drama Chuukan Kanriroku Tonegawa is a spin-off of the Kaiji series, which follows Tonegawa, the right hand man of Kazutaka Hyoudou, the president of the Teiai Corporation and owner of numerous gambling tournaments. After Hyoudou is getting bored with his life, he orders Tonegawa to organize a so called "game of death" as it is his and his subordinate's job to keep the president in a good mood. Tonegawa must cooperate with his subordinates in order to make the president happy and what follows is a humorous story of his interactions with his subordinates and other characters of the Kaiji series. Spin-off.   Overall Rating: 6/10

32. Beatless Final Stage  [Diomedéa] (Finished 1/4) Tags: Action, Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi Arato Endou and his faithful hIE, Lacia, have come together once again to show the world that artificial intelligence, no matter how brilliant, can be shut down safely. As they descend into the holding facility to confront Higgins, Lacia's AI creator, the pair must fend off enemies from all fronts. Among them are Snowdrop, a rampant hIE hellbent on devouring Higgins, and Methode, a hIE who seeks vengeance against Lacia. The world's super-intelligent AIs unanimously decide to terminate Lacia, whom they deem a threat to humanity. With limited time and the odds stacked against them, will Arato and Lacia be able to truly join together in a society where humans and hIEs can coexist peacefully? Sequel.   Overall Rating: 6/10

33. Yama no Susume Third Season Encouragement of Climb Season  ヤマノススメ サードシーズン [8bit] (Finished 1/13) Tags: CGDCT, Iyashikei Adventure, Slice of Life With the conclusion of an unforgettable summer break, Aoi Yukimura remains invigorated to continue pursuing her new hobby in mountaineering. Having braved her fear of heights and fulfilled her childhood promise with Hinata Kuraue, any opportunity to go climbing intrigues the first-year high school student—including a second chance to reach the summit of Mt. Fuji. Although the formidable yet exciting trip is planned for next summer, Aoi is already preparing as much as she can to guarantee her success this time around. However, as budding expectations blossom with the shift of the seasons, ascending the unexplored peaks of colorful endeavors begins to strain the bond between the two longtime friends and the perspectives they share of the future. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 5/10

34. Tsukumogami Kashimasu We Rent Tsukumogami つくもがみ貸します [Telecom Animation Film] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Anthropomorphic, Historical, Mythology Supernatural The series is set during the Edo period, in the Fukagawa ward of old Edo (present-day Tokyo). Because the area is prone to fire and flooding, residents rent everyday items like pots, futons, and clothing from shops instead of purchasing them, so as not to impede them when they flee. Obeni and Seiji, an older sister and younger brother, run one such rental shop called Izumoya. However, mixed in with their inventory are tsukumogami, objects that have turned into spirits after a hundred years of existence. The siblings sometimes lend these sentient items to customers. Both Obeni and Seiji can see and talk to these spirits, and other tsukumogami often come to the store after hearing of the famed siblings. Weird Edo nonsense SOL mystery with exorcism which is more than enough to dump it for good...   Overall Rating: 6/10

35. Ongaku Shoujo (TV) Music Girls 音楽少女 [Studio Deen] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Idols (Female), Music Slice of Life There are eleven girls that consist the C-class Ongaku Shoujo idol unit under Pine Records. Despite generating red sales marks and not being very popular, Producer Ikebashi and the members are trying their very best to up their levels. Nevertheless, Ikebashi suggests recruiting a new member for Ongaku Shoujo; someone who can act as a catalyst for the success of the group. Thus, an audition was opened, leading to the soon-to-be legendary group's meeting to a girl named Hanako. Can't compete with Wake up girls in quality or realism, so not good.   Overall Rating: 6/10

36. Senjuushi The Thousand Noble Musketeers 千銃士 [TMS Entertainment] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Military Action Despair War is a battle between ancient guns and contemporary guns. Due to a nuclear war, the world was destroyed. Under the full governance of a world empire, people are living with their freedom taken. Despite the forbidden rule of owning any weapons, there is a resistance that secretly fights against the world empire. They own ancient guns left as art and fight using these. Then, the Kijuushi appear as the souls of the ancient guns. Proud and magnificent, the "Absolute Royal" are the only ones that can give hope to this world. The story depicts the everyday life of the Kijuushi. Laughter, despair, happiness, confusion, pain; they would still pursue their own absolute loyalty to fight. What do they fight for? What should they protect? Some bishounen nonsense that's only formally themed as musketeers.   Overall Rating: 5/10

37. Aguu: Tensai Ningyou Aguu: Genius Dolls 悪偶 ‐天才人形‐ [Studio Deen] (Finished 3/12) Tags: Action, Drama, Supernatural The series is about a missing genius whose mysterious disappearance becomes a shady secret among the successful members of society. Episodic horror with occasional body horror, truly terrible for me.   Overall Rating: 5/10

38. Shinya! Tensai Bakabon Late night! The Genius Bakabon 深夜！天才バカボン [Pierrot Plus] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Comedy, Slice of Life  The pinnacle of gag manga as well as one of Akatsuka Fujio's most renowned works, "Tensai Bakabon" returns after 18 years since its last anime with Director Hosokawa Toru's new original story! Bakabon and his family, who made the phrase "This is how it should be" famous, are back along with the eccentric cast of Mr. Policeman, Rerere no Ojisan and Eel-Dog letting loose in a much more modern setting! The new frontier of "Bakabon" that'll take place in a late-night slot is about to begin, 10 years after Akatsuka Fujio's death. Good old Bakabon. Silly and mildly pleasant, but can't exactly call it a masterpiece.   Overall Rating: 6/10

39. Oshiete Mahou no Pendulum: Rilu Rilu Fairilu おしえて魔法のペンデュラム～リルリルフェアリル～ [Studio Deen] (Finished 1/26) Tags: Fantasy, Slice of Life  The third chapter of Rilu Rilu Fairilu chronicles the journey of a girl who uncovers the coveted "Magic Pendulum." With this artifact in hand, she ventures into the enchanting realm of Fairilu, where she embarks on exhilarating adventures and undergoes transformative personal development. Sequel.   Overall Rating: 5/10

40. Mo Dao Zu Shi The Founder of Diabolism Season 1 魔道祖师 [B.CMAY PICTURES] (Finished 15/15) Tags: Historical, Mythology, Reincarnation Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery Xian: the state of immortality that all cultivators strive to achieve. However, there is a dark energy that lies underneath—the forbidden Mo Dao, or demonic path. Through an unfortunate series of tragedies, this is the path that cultivator Wei Wuxian experiments with during his teachings. His rise in power is accompanied by chaos and destruction, but his reign of terror comes to an abrupt end when the cultivation clans overpower him and he is killed by his closest ally. Thirteen years later, Wei Wuxian is reincarnated in the body of a lunatic and reunited with Lan Wangji, a former classmate of his. This marks the beginning of a supernatural mystery that plagues the clans and threatens to disrupt their everyday life. Mo Dao Zu Shi follows these two men on their mission to unravel the mysteries of the spiritual world. Fighting demons, ghosts, and even other cultivators, the two end up forming a bond that neither of them had ever expected. Despite looking like animated wuxia and being a toned down BL mystery it's still a curious story driven start, so will watch further.   Overall Rating: 7/10

41. Sword Gai The Animation Part II ソードガイ The Animation Part II [DLE, LandQ studios] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Seinen Action, Supernatural Part II of Sword Gai: The Animation. Sequel.  Overall Rating: 5/10

42. Dies Irae: To the Ring Reincarnation [A.C.G.T.] (Finished 6/6) Tags: Super Power Action Episodes 12–17 of Dies Irae released exclusively on the web. Protagonists are rather bland and unmemorable. Battles are mostly just pretentious speeches. It does not feel like a masterpiece.   Overall Rating: 6/10

43. Aru Zombie Shoujo no Sainan Calamity of the Zombie Girl あるゾンビ少女の災難 [Gonzo, Stingray] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Gore Action, Horror, Supernatural On a hot summer day, five university students sneak into the library storage to look for some treasure. They find two sets of female antique mummies from Italy around the age of 14–20 years old. One of the students, Sayaka, rips open the mummy and takes out a stone called "stone of life," which gave the mummies super strength and eternal life. Having stolen their "stone of life," the two mummy girls wake up and become zombies after 100 years in order to get it back in a bloody gruesome way, smashing their heads and eating their flesh for power. The only way for the students to get out is to somehow find a way to kill the zombie girls. Will they be able to survive? Stupid gory horror with some B class action, so not sure what to like here.   Overall Rating: 6/10

44. Yakusoku no Nanaya Matsuri Starlight Promises 約束の七夜祭り [Yokohama Animation Lab] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Samurai Drama, Sci-Fi "A festival of miracle, where you can meet whoever you want to meet." Mihara Shoma, a first-year in high school, receives a message from his best friend Atsushi, who he hadn't heard from in ages. "Wanna come to this cool little festival I found? It's been a while, so I'd like to catch up." Unable to sit around after that, Shoma heads to a ghost village in the mountains for the Tanabata Nanayamatsuri. But he doesn't find Atsushi there. Instead, he meets a girl named Shiori, who has someone she wants to meet as well. Will Shoma be able to meet Atsushi once again? Supernatural rural festival nostalgy with some personal drama involved. Not particularly interesting, so decent at best.   Overall Rating: 6/10

45. Sheng Shi Zhuang Niang The Beauty Blogger 盛世妆娘 [Imagineer] (Finished 1/20) Tags: Historical, Video Game Drama, Romance A beauty blogger has been sent to a VR reality game, where she has to stand firm in a catfight in boudoir. But how so? She is given numerous cosmetic products that she can arm herself up with. Based on the popular online novel published on the famous female-oriented online novel website "Jinjiang", this animation is strongly recommended to those who love all kinds of cosmetics. Cant take series about makeup seriously.   Overall Rating: 5/10

46. Semi wa Magic Cube 세미와 매직큐브 [Durufix] (Finished 1/26) Tags: Action, Comedy, Fantasy  The story tells the tale of Semi, a bright girl who goes in a magical time journey with the genius teacher Wai, in order to prevent the evil X from utilizing the powers of the magic cube for evil. Along the way, Semi and her math school friends run into history and math problems that they must solve with logic and wit. CGI and mathematical magic... that's all I needed to know.   Overall Rating: 5/10

47. Jiyi U-Pan And2 Girls 记忆U盘 [-] (Finished 1/15) Tags: Sci-Fi The animation And2 Girls is based on the five members of the virtual idol group And2girls. The story takes place after the era of Big Power Outages in which Shang Jing City has become an international metropolis due to energy reserves and development. Idols have also become recognized by everyone and sought after. Studying at Music&Art Private High School, the five girls encounter acquaintances and companions for their common purpose. They make unremitting efforts for the goal, boarding the summit of Star List through the match, to prove their strength! Only one episode seems to be translated. Normal idol anime with CGI dances, nothing really standing out.   Overall Rating: 6/10

48. Kimi no Suizou wo Tabetai I Want To Eat Your Pancreas 君の膵臓をたべたい [Studio VOLN] (Finished 1/1) Tags: School Drama, Romance The aloof protagonist: a bookworm who is deeply detached from the world he resides in. He has no interest in others and is firmly convinced that nobody has any interest in him either. His story begins when he stumbles across a handwritten book, titled Living with Dying. He soon identifies it as a secret diary belonging to his popular, bubbly classmate Sakura Yamauchi. She then confides in him about the pancreatic disease she is suffering from and that her time left is finite. Only her family knows about her terminal illness; not even her best friends are aware. Despite this revelation, he shows zero sympathy for her plight, but caught in the waves of Sakura's persistent buoyancy, he eventually concedes to accompanying her for her remaining days. As the pair of polar opposites interact, their connection strengthens, interweaving through their choices made with each passing day. Her apparent nonchalance and unpredictability disrupts the protagonist's impassive flow of life, gradually opening his heart as he discovers and embraces the true meaning of living. Terminal illness stories are never interesting for me. And this one reminds of upcoming death every five minutes. Same tearjerkers over and over and over again.   Overall Rating: 6/10

49. Shikioriori Flavors of Youth 詩季織々（しきおりおり） [CoMix Wave Films] (Finished 3/3) Tags: Drama, Romance  The rigorous city life of China, while bustling and unforgiving, contains the everlasting memories of days past. Three stories told in three different cities, Shikioriori follows the loss of youth and the daunting realization of adulthood. Though reality may seem ever changing, unchangeable are the short-lived moments of one's childhood days. A plentiful bowl of noodles, the beauty of family and the trials of first love endure the inevitable flow of time, as three different characters explore the strength of bonds and the warmth of cherished memories. Within the disorder of the present world, witness these quaint stories recognize the comfort of the past, and attempt to revive the neglected flavors of youth. Another failed Netflix project trying to cash up on some nostalgy. Seriously surface-scratching. The only good point is that it's about contemporary China, and there are few works touching that.   Overall Rating: 5/10

50. Mirai no Mirai Mirai 未来のミライ [Studio Chizu] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Time Travel Adventure, Drama, Fantasy In a quiet corner of the city, four-year-old Kun Oota has lived a spoiled life as an only child with his parents and the family dog, Yukko. But when his new baby sister Mirai is brought home, his simple life is thrown upside-down; suddenly, it isn't all about him anymore. Despite his tantrums and nagging, Mirai is seemingly now the subject of all his parents' love. To help him adapt to this drastic change, Kun is taken on an extraordinary journey through time, meeting his family's past, present, and future selves, as he learns not only what it means to be a part of a family, but also what it means to be an older brother. First supernatural, then time travel, and finally just psychodelics to show what - how difficult to grow children? Stupid and non-integral .   Overall Rating: 5/10

51. FLCL Progressive フリクリ プログレ [Production I.G, Signal.MD, Production GoodBook] (Finished 6/6) Tags: Mecha, Parody Action, Avant Garde, Comedy, Sci-Fi Hidomi Hibajiri is a dissilusioned young girl who never takes off her headphones. Her whole life consists of going to school, helping out at her mother's cafe, and listening to music. And with nothing else to break the crippling monotony, she keeps her headphones on at all times. That is, until she is run over by a mysterious guitar-wielding woman. That same night, a robot barges into Hidomi’s room along with a boy from her class, Ko Ide, and the kids are chased around town together. They're saved by the guitar-wielding woman from before, but now Hidomi's got a horn growing from her forehead? Who knows where these robots are coming from, what kind of vespa woman this weird guitar woman is warning her about, or what this thing on her forehead is, but it doesn't look like Hidomi is going to be able to ignore all this with headphones! It tries to mirror original FLCL in many ways, but pales in comparison. Even quality is worse. No way I can call it a masterpiece.   Overall Rating: 6/10

52. FLCL Alternative フリクリ オルタナ [Production I.G, Nut, Revoroot] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Mecha, Parody Action, Avant Garde, Comedy, Sci-Fi Life seems to drift by for Kana Koumoto and her friends in their small Japanese town. Every day is just like the last, and it feels like every new day will be the same. Kana goes to school, hangs out with her friends, and likes to paint her nails and listen to music, but it feels like nothing special is ever going to happen. As a change of pace, Kana and her friends decide to design a bottle rocket and launch it into space, even though it might not get there at all. However, just when the rocket is completed, a robot suddenly crashes into and destroys it, shortly followed by a pink-haired woman claiming to be a "Galactic Investigator." Kana's life quickly becomes more exciting than she ever imagined, dealing with new feelings, changing friends, and even boy troubles. It turns out life can go by in the blink of an eye, fast enough to even miss it, so what's with these weird robots that seem to show up at the worst times?! A lot better than Progressive, but still can't call a masterpiece as it follows the same pattern of choosing a new kid and getting them through experiences to transform into defender of planet. Any number of volumes can be crafted this way.   Overall Rating: 6/10

53. Penguin Highway ペンギン・ハイウェイ [Studio Colorido] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Fantasy, Mystery, Sci-Fi  For a child, Aoyama has knowledge comparable to an adult. As such, he is often teased by his classmates. He also has a crush on the friendly woman he recently met at a dental office. One morning, penguins start mysteriously appearing around his neighborhood. Nobody knows where they came from and how they managed to get there. Aoyama is determined to find out more, and he joins his new crush in researching the penguins. As time passes, they discover a levitating sphere which they nickname "The Sea." Whatever goes into The Sea does not come back out, and the only things that can destroy it are the penguins. However, something horrifying is created when the penguins do... Penguin Highway follows Aoyama and the woman's research on the mysterious penguins' origin, as well as the many difficulties Aoyama faces throughout his investigation. This silly and pointless movie has been a waste of time for me.   Overall Rating: 5/10

54. Aragne no Mushikago Aragne: Sign of Vermillion アラーニェの虫籠 [Sentai Filmworks] (Finished 1/1) Tags: Fantasy, Horror, Mystery  Life could be better for shy, anxious university student Rin. The apartment she has rented is hardly the sunny palace the rental listings suggested. The housing complex is rundown, grim and haunted by troubled souls lurking in dark corners. Ghastly crimes are occurring in the vicinity. And a grinning stranger makes his unsettling presence known. Beyond all this, Rin is coming to realize that something even more sinister is manifesting itself, something at the cursed crossroads of mythology, monstrosity and medical science. Determined to find out more, Rin visits the library, where she meets a sympathetic young staffer. But what she learns does not begin to put her mind at ease. Ugly disgusting crude horror.   Overall Rating: 5/10

55. Yu Shen Chuan: Wangzhe Shaonian The Juvenile of King Yu 禹神传之王者少年 [-] (Finished 0/1) Tags: Adventure, Fantasy - Not found.   Overall Rating: 0/10

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