Preview by FJ Freeman

Editor’s Note: First episode premieres on Monday, January 1st. Following episodes air on Sundays.

Midori’s untimely demise at the age of 27 left her grappling with the cruel reality of an overworked existence. Just as despair began to creep in, a deity materialized, offering a peculiar proposition: a reincarnation into another realm in exchange for a verdict on humanity’s worthiness to persist there. The divine emissary sweetened the deal with a promised gift—a unique ability. Midori, exhausted from the harshness of her previous life, yearned for solace amidst the weariness. So, with an unexpected plea on her lips, she wished for a simple yet profound desire—to find solace in cuddling adorable, fluffy creatures.

And thus, rebirthed into a new existence as Nefertima, a young girl in this alternate world, Midori discovered a remarkable power. Her aura evoked adoration from every living being, excluding humans. Not just animals, but revered creatures like white tigers and majestic dragons, even monstrous entities such as goblins and frozen spiders—all found solace and fondness in her presence. Yet, amidst this enchanting ability lay a harsh destiny, a fate she couldn’t escape.

Determined to carve a harmonious existence amidst the diverse life forms of her new world, Nefertima pledged to embrace a life dedicated to the tender care and affectionate caresses of these endearing creatures.

Preview by Pancakes

High school isn’t everything the social outcast Tomozaki Fumiya (Satou Gen) thought it would be. Ostracized and sidelined, Fumiya gets by thanks to his incredible skills in the online game Attack Family where via his handle nanashi he dominates the Japanese server as its top player. The winner’s high is enough for Fumiya to believe it’s the way real life should be – until Hinami Aoi (Kanemoto Hisako) enters the picture. Book smart and wickedly popular to boot, Aoi also moonlights as NO NAME, Attack Family’s second ranking Japanese player, and the only one who Fumiya also happens to respect. To make matters worse Aoi, upon discovering nanashi’s real world identity, is so thoroughly disgusted with what her in-game rival turned out to be that she decides to take Fumiya on and teach him how to win outside the computer. Fumiya might’ve thought maintaining his leaderboard status was rough, but Aoi is about to give him a whole new challenge.

Jaku-Chara in hindsight is a romance series I wouldn’t have pegged as sequel material. Although following in the vein of Oregairu, AoButa, or ReLIFE where the emphasis is on life lessons and overcoming social stigma, in practice it played quite generically, with many of its lessons somewhat held back thanks to cookie cutter characters and the usual adaptation funding/pacing issues. It was nothing egregious mind you – the sense of optimism, positive feedback loop vis a vis Aoi with Fumiya, and continual development of Fumiya was fairly well handled – but the whole package had at times a hard time really rising above the crowd. The good news however is that all major cast and crew are carrying over and the first season has laid the foundations for more substantive romance, ensuring this one will be more of the first in a good way. Again, don’t expect any crazy improvements on the part of Jaku-Chara, but it’s worth a watch for any unfamiliar genre fan and will certainly do the trick for any new romance material desires.

Preview by Pancakes

Adapted from the light novel of the same name, Youjitsu focuses on one Ayanokouji Kiyotaka (Chiba Shouya) after he decides to enroll in the prestigious Kodo Ikusei high school. While ostensibly the best, Kodo Ikusei is split into rigid social cliques where the smart, strong, and popular, courtesy of a points-based merit system get the finest treatment – and everyone else fights over the scraps. Kiyotaka finds himself assigned to Class D, the bottom of the pile, but rather than accept a school life of torment and suffering, he instead decides to fight back. Seeing potential in his fellow classmates, Kiyotaka alongside new ‘friends’ Horikita Suzune (Kitou Akari) and Kushida Kikyou (Kubo Yurika) set out to change Class D’s fortunes for the better. After all, if everything is decided on merit, what’s to stop them rising to the top?

Whatever one thinks of Japan’s love for crazy high school settings, there’s no denying Youjitsu ranks up there. Over its previous two seasons this one did quite well with its competitive, strategically minded plot, providing a good amount of pulpy suspense and interpersonal drama that helped raise it up among the competition. I wouldn’t say it’s particularly deep (the material is shallower than it would like you to think), but Youjitsu did more than enough to make up for any defects by ratcheting up both the risks and rewards for Class D. All major cast, crew, and studio in Lerche are carrying over for this third kick at the anime can – plus the story now arguably reaching the apex of its strength – so if you liked what came before or are wanting something a little more exhilarating in your winter watch list I firmly recommend keeping Youjitsu close at hand. One way or another this one won’t disappoint.

Preview by Pancakes

Once the world was threatened by the great Demon King, a being of immense power and even wickeder designs. Yet overcome and defeated was the Demon King, brought down by a collection of demigods who now in the heady aftermath have laid claim to the world. Or that’s what the average person believes. In reality one hero was responsible for felling the Demon King, and everyone of power wants to know who. Thus the world’s strongest gather in the world’s largest city of Yellow Capital to determine who among their rank is the true saviour. A sound barrier breaking lancer; a rouge capable of wielding three legendary weapons; an instant death dealing assassin; a wizard capable of turning thoughts into reality: all seek the title of hero, and as all shall see, claiming it will be the greatest challenge of them all.

If there’s one thing to say about Ishura it’s that it will be entertaining one way or another. This one is effectively a battle shounen which decided to ramp up the suspense and chaos, throwing several dozen characters into a larger than life battle royale and seeing where the chips fall. Want action? There’s plenty of that. Need backstabbing and drama-infused machinations? You’re covered nicely. Need more Kaji Yuuki doing his duty as the shounen male lead? I thought you’d never ask. Main caveat is that this heralds from an ongoing light novel series with no guarantee of more than a single cour run – i.e. rushing, chopping, and anime original ending are serious risks – but given studio Passione’s current staff roster having decent experience with this type of story and the overall series focus on high octane action, I wouldn’t bet on too much going off track. Even for those not particularly inclined towards battle shounen I’d recommend keeping an eye on Ishura; not unlikely this one winds up surprising.

Preview by Pancakes

Everyone loves magical girls for their goodness, purity, and outright charm, yet not every magical girl is destined to fight evil. There’s always one who must serve as the baddie, the one whom must be defeated for that happy ending to materialize. A role Hiiragi Utena (Izumi Fuuka) winds up assuming. Fantasizing for years about becoming a magical girl, Utena gets her wish one day when the ubiquitous mascot turns up and tells her about her hidden powers, but not in the way she envisioned. Her power is of the evil sort and the local magical girl squad soon takes notice of their new enemy. Unfortunately for Utena too she quickly learns after testing her newfound abilities that she’s not as good-natured as she once thought. This girl you see likes being evil, and now she has the perfect role to act it.

Buckle up boys and girls, we got a fun one on our hands. Although debatable that magical girls are now a well-trodden concept as isekai is, Mahou Shoujo ni Akogarete does just enough to separate itself from the crowd. For starters it flips the script by focusing on the evil side of transformation sequences (it’s not a Madoka-esque deconstruction), and for follow up it leans hard into the ecchi side of affairs. Pretty much take Bouryaku no Zvezda or Koiseka, ratchet up the titillation and magical fluff, add in a hefty chunk of cute girls doing cute things comedy, and you’ve got yourself a show. Given the material the main concern will be censoring (which the PV naturally doesn’t indicate which direction), however provided this one leans more towards ecchi than hentai and at least keeps the pacing decent, I don’t foresee too many issues. Certainly won’t be a show for everyone, but Mahou Shoujo ni Akogarete will meet the needs for anyone desiring a bit of raucous winter ecchi fun.

Preview by Pancakes

In an alternate timeline Japan isn’t having an easy go of it. Beset by a mysterious dimension termed Mato containing a demonic realm, the country is continually ravaged by attacks from its so-called Shuuki denizens. Yet not all hope is lost. Thanks to the power of a Mato fruit, women are capable of wielding supernatural abilities which can defeat the Shuuki, enough so that Japanese society is radically altered with a matriarchal government and all-female Anti-Demon Corps taking control. It’s in this world that Wakura Yuuki (Hirose Yuuya) finds himself, a high schooler who one day inadvertently stumbles into a Mato rift only to get immediately rescued by local Anti-Demon Corps chief Uzen Kyouka (Kitou Akari). Normally that would be all there was to it, but Kyouka’s abilities are haphazard and Yuuki just so happened to unlock their full potential during his rescue. Thus Yuuki gets a proposition: join the Anti-Demon Corps as Kyouka’s slave to better fight the Shuuki. It’s a request he won’t be able to refuse.

To pre-empt the inevitable questions yes, Mato Seihei no Slave is an ecchi harem series, and oh yes, it makes no attempts at hiding it. This one is effectively a reverse clone of say High School DvD or Black Bullet, where the claim to fame is the sadistic female lead, the requirement for lascivious acts to unlock power ups, and the fact it comes from the mind of Akame ga Kill’s creator Takahiro – i.e. over the top chaos and shenanigans will be the modus operandi. The foundation already ensures some serious audience filtering (seriously: this one is very ecchi), but considering the respectable Seven Arcs is animating alongside the venerable – and very experienced – Nishimura Junji on director duty, any fan of traditional harem hijinks would do well to keep Mato Seihei no Slave on their winter watch list. Given just how few of this type of show we get these days, there’s no better reason to give it a shot.

Preview by Enzo

The most inexplicable thing about the Dungeon Meshi adaptation is how long it took to arrive. The manga is a big seller and a critical smash (it was nominated for the Manga Taishou four straight years starting in 2016). Folks including me have been predicting this for literally several years, but for whatever reason the stars never aligned until now.

Given that Trigger animated a promo for the manga a couple years ago (which just stoked the rumor mill that much more), it can come as a surprise to no on that they’re the studio behind the anime. I’ve warmed to Trigger some as they’re diversified beyond Imaishi Hiroyuki’s predictable style, though absent the CM they wouldn’t have been the first to come to my mind for Dungeon Meshi. That said, the previews look solid and director Miyajima Yoshihiro comes out of Amemiya Akira’s Gridman-Dynazenon wing of the studio (easily my favorite face of Trigger).

Dungeon Meshi is a clever twist on the RPG fantasy trope, following a party of adventurers as they traverse a massive dungeon full of monsters of all shapes and sizes, elves, orcs, and other races which will be very familiar to fans of D&D or Lord of the Rings. All of the heroes’ party are wonderfully quirky, most prominent to the story being protagonist Laios’ obsession with tasting monster meat in as many forms as possible. I love all these goofs but the halfling Chilchcuk is my favorite (he’s one of manga’s all-time great snark masters).

It’s been a growing trend in anime these last couple of years for manga to get adaptations after they finish, and that’s the case here (it just ended) – maybe that’s what the production committee was waiting for. It seems likely we’re going to get a full adaptation – I mean, anything else would be pretty pointless – but with no episode count yet, the possibility of rushed pacing can’t be ruled out. The manga is 12 volumes and two cours would be a serious crunch – hopefully the franchise is a big enough seller to get it the three it needs (like Sengoku Youko).

Preview by Pancakes

School trips are supposed to be trivial affairs, but Takatou Yogiri (Uchiyama Kouki) gets the worst of all worlds during his latest. Waking up to sheer panic and terror, Yogiri finds out his entire class was transported to another world, and worst off for him, was granted special powers while he snoozed the time away. Not helping either are how several friends wound up abandoning his group all for the sake of distracting a nearby dragon who happens to be quite ravenous. Yet Yogiri still isn’t plussed by all that chaos. You see Yogiri has the secret ability to instant kill anything and anyone with a single thought – he just has to stay awake long enough to consciously use it.

As far as derivative isekai goes Sokushi Cheat ga Saikyou Sugite isn’t that bad an affair. This one is basically a less overtly edgy Arifureta with even more ridiculous power, where Yogiri simply kills whenever his life and peace of mind are threatened. Villains? Heroes? The average village citizen? All mowed down if they so much as get on the MC’s bad side, just in a black comedy fashion more than a serious take on overpowered teenage angst. And I’m not kidding on the comedy – Yogiri winds up killing thousands over the course of the story for fairly innocuous (and arguably dumb) reasons. In short definitely expect this one to be hit or miss depending on personal taste, but considering both cast and crew are fairly solid with over six years worth of source material to work with, Sokushi Cheat ga Saikyou Sugite will certainly do the trick for some winter isekai popcorn entertainment shenanigans.

Preview by Choya

Sasaki (Sugita Tomokazu) can’t help but feel like a cog in the machine by the end of an exhausting workday. As he searches for companionship to cope with the empty, droll corporate life, he makes a stop at the pet shop to purchase a new life partner. He may have settled on an adorable tiny bird he calls Pii-chan (Yuuki Aoi), but when he brings his new roommate home, Pii-chan has quite the surprise for him. As it turns out, his new bird is a sage from another world who is quick to imbue Sasaki with supernatural powers and a gateway between worlds. Of course, these gifts don’t come for free as his seemingly cool new life is fraught with oddballs and adversaries who will prove to be more than a headache for Sasaki and Peeps.

Sasaki to Pii-chan rips a page from many wonderful isekai comedies by bringing a salaryman into another world. But whereas others have mostly banished these poor workers into a world of chaotic, bloodthirsty foes, Sasaki has the good fortune of Pii-chan’s sage wisdom and the ability to travel from place to place at will. This means that rather than being chained to another world and making sense of it, Sasaki has to look inward and make sense of his powers and abilities as Pii-chan’s presence attracts some scary enemies and eccentric allies. At the same time, Pii-chan must adjust to the many foibles of life in contemporary Japan as they learn about the struggles that Sasaki endures regularly. Either way, Sasaki and Pii-chan are both in for quite a roundabout adventure when it is summoned this January.

Preview by Pancakes

Sweet sixteen birthdays usually mean a new car or expensive jewelry, but in Momochi Himari’s (Kawaida Natsumi) case it’s inheriting the deed to the Momochi House mansion. It’s the only thing left of value left for the Momochi family so Himari naturally accepts, even in the face of rumours that the place is haunted. And haunted it is. Himari’s first visit to the place reveals the presence of Nanamori Aoi (Ootsuka Takeo), a squatter who Himari quickly learns is actually the guardian of Momochi House, a position originally meant for Himari. Even more concerning, Himari discovers that the mansion sits in the space between the worlds of men and spirits and that Aoi, as part of his duties protecting against youkai invaders, is no longer considered “living” and is permanently bound to reside within Momochi House. Not one to resist helping, Himari thus decides: she will help free Aoi from his curse, no matter what she has to do.

Supernatural premise and cutesy, romance-tinged atmosphere: I think we all know where this one is going. To Momochi-san’s credit however that’s not a negative; this one is basically Kamisama Hajimemashita in reverse, where Himari is trying to rescue Aoi versus the latter’s Nanami trying to assist Tomoe. Oh and the focus is very much on Aoi coming to help and care for Himari. A lot. In short this one leans quite hard into the shoujo romance side of things so anyone expecting a more conventional supernatural show will likely want to stay clear, but provided you like the fluffier side of youkai shenanigans you certainly won’t do wrong giving Momochi-san a shot. After all, it’s not that often we get romance adaptations such as this.

Preview by Pancakes

The isekai phenomenon never discriminates. Old, young, famous, recluse: whatever the origins once fantasyland wants you it most definitely gets you as Usato Ken (Sakata Shougo) discovers. Embracing all the stereotypical normal high schooler traits, Ken’s claim to fame is befriending the incredibly popular student council president and vice-president – and summarily getting summoned to another world alongside them. Such a summoning sucks for the kid, and while Ken is resigned to living out his days with swords and magic, he soon discovers he has an affinity for healing magic, a very rare and very powerful magic variety. It’s enough to restore some of Ken’s self-confidence…and to also attract a lot of attention. As Ken is about to find out, being popular isn’t always as great as it seems.

Before anyone gets the bright idea no, Chiyu Mahou is definitely not another Kaiyari. Outside of meek MC getting equipped with healing magic there’s not a lot of similarities, with this one taking the more conventional harem adventure route than pure edgy revenge porn. Or if you will, thoroughly vanilla with not much of the real bean. To Chiyu Mahou’s credit however it’s nothing particularly bad: Ken isn’t a total pushover like a lot of the usual isekai MCs, the harem isn’t particularly large or overbearing, and the power levels of all involved are just enough to keep things interesting without veering into boredom. Plus one can never go wrong with the increasingly reliable Shin Ei Animation pulling animation duty. In short don’t expect this one to change any minds regarding isekai, but it will easily do the trick for anyone needing another alternate world helping to ring in the new year.

Preview by Choya

Times are tough for high-schooler Nashiko Jippensha (Maeda Kaori) when she’s kicked out of her house. With nowhere else to hang out in Onomichi City, Hiroshima, she discovers a vacant mahjong parlor that her father used to run. With a renewed sense of focus, Nashiko renovated the parlor as a fun hangout pad where she could invite her friends for some food, tea, and games. But since this was a mahjong parlor, mahjong’s the name of the game as Nashiko and her friends get invested in the game and play each other for fun and glory. Kick up your feet and relax as Nashiko’s crew gets invested in the game of mahjong in Pon no Michi.

Hobbyist anime are always a delight to see, and having a slice-of-life designed around mahjong sounds like it’d be a fun way to learn more about the game. On top of this, it might also be a nice opportunity to learn more about Onomichi City considering that it’s been the backdrop and inspiration for stories such as Kamichu!, Tokyo Story, Blue Drop, and Yakuza 6: The Song of Life. It may be a slice-of-life that aims to be a fun diversion from the day, but I’d be interested in seeing if Pon no Michi winds up being a good time when it moves some tiles this winter.

Preview by Pancakes

In another time definitely not our own, Satou Haruto (Satou Gen) has won the teenage jackpot. Completely head over heels for his childhood friend (and neighbour) Hime (Kitou Akari), the kid has agonized for years about how best to confess to her, especially when Hime herself hasn’t made the process easy. And now, to Haruto’s lament, Hime is moving back to her ancestral home. Unlike other dweeby protagonists however, Haruto decides to do something about it. Following Hime after she leaves, Haruto gets the double whammy of both learning the girl is from an alternate world, and – most importantly – inadvertently crashing her wedding. All is good though; Hime was happy enough to instead take Haruto as her husband then and there and seal it with a kiss. Sure, the whole affair might come with a requirement to save the world from the Abyssal King, but right now all Haruto cares about is building up the relationship he’s always dreamed of.

Whatever one can say of isekai there’s no denying its wellspring of twists has yet to run dry. At a glance Kekkon Yubiwa Monogatari broadly follows the strategy of say Tsukimichi, where reverse isekai gets paired with an overarching theme (in this case romance) to yield a story just different enough to set it apart from the crowd. I wouldn’t go as far as saying it’s enough to be a true genre trendsetter – this one plays out exactly like boilerplate anime romance where Haruto takes his sweet time moving between bases – but anyone needing some isekai spice and fantasy flavoured plot to the usual (melo)drama shenanigans will be right at home here. Kekkon Yubiwa Monogatari certainly won’t be a show for everyone, but romance fans will likely want to give it a bit of attention once it crosses worlds this winter season.

Preview by Pancakes

Life has been unfair for Itose Yuki (Morohoshi Sumire). Severely hearing impaired, the university student hasn’t moved once from her birth home and, in part from her impairment, rarely interacts with anyone except her best friend Fujishiro Rin (Hondo Kaede). All that changes one day however when commuting as Yuki comes into contact with Nagi Itsuomi (Miyazaki Yuu). A mutual friend of Rin’s and multilingual to boot, Itsuomi isn’t put back by Yuki’s troubles, instead finding them fascinating and touching. While both wind up inevitably parting ways, it doesn’t take long before, thanks to Rin, they have the chance to meet again and start learning more about each other. For Rin especially, it’ll be the start of a whole new life.

To pre-empt the inevitable comparisons, yes, Yubisaki to Renren is effectively an “adult” version of Koe no Katachi, and yes, it’s very much romance focused and critically acclaimed – but outside of that the similarities largely end. This one is a more lighthearted take, where deafness, while the defining facet of Yuki’s life, isn’t tackled to the same blunt degree as in Koe no Katachi. Make no mistake, there will be drama – and plenty of it – but more of the traditional romance variety, especially as it comes to both Yuki and Itsuomi stumbling across misunderstandings and working through them both together and with friends. As far as production goes Aija-do isn’t a bad choice given their previous work, and with a good cast to flesh out the ranks means there’s every potential of getting a solid adaptation. First few episodes will tell the tale, but without a doubt Yubisaki to Renren should be front and centre this season for any self-styled romance fan.

Preview by Choya

In the magical world of MASHLE, a mark indicates if you have the powers to be a magician, and if you don’t, a swift execution awaits. Mash Burnedead (Kobayashi Chiaki) is one of the few ordinary people to survive through a combination of his father’s protection and an elaborate civilian disguise. But his cozy life of solitude comes to an end when a trip to grab creampuffs exposes him to brutal government mages sent to murder him. Little do they know that Mash has dedicated his life to bulking up, working out, getting stronger, and harnessing his superhuman strength. With no magical abilities whatsoever, Mash’s strength strikes fear into the hearts of his foes as they are unprepared for the beating of a lifetime from someone with no magic. However, he attracts the attention of authorities who force him to become a Divine Visionary, someone who has exceeded magic to such an extent that no one would possibly discriminate against him or execute him. With this new goal in mind, Mash aims to protect his family, enroll in a wizard school, and take on their most elite wizards to surpass them and gain acceptance in society through sheer will and brawn.

MASHLE is a show you’ll either love or hate depending on how much comedy you want with your action. It’s a shonen that isn’t afraid to give you a few goofs and gaffs to go with your magical fights, but this can be some wonderful comfort food for many. As the second cour, MASHLE looks like it will be building on the momentum that it’s created so far as Mash becomes better acquainted with his friend circle, and learns more about who his rivals may be. If the first season gave you some good chuckles and kept you on the edge of your seat, then you’re in for quite the treat as sweet as a creampuff when it arrives this winter.

Preview by Enzo

Surely there’s not all that much that need be said about Kingdom at this point. The Tezuka Grand Prize-winning manga is a colossus, its 70 volumes having surpassed 100 million copies sold (and that was a while ago) – which puts it in the all-time sales top 20. This is the fifth season for the anime, so if you’re watching at this point it seems very likely you’ve been on-board for a while.

Yasuhira Hara’s sprawling epic of the Chinese Warring States Period always delivers in terms of plot, usually in terms of character, and sometimes in terms of visuals. It’s a classic Pierrot adaptation in that it faithfully captures the tenor of the source material but rarely impresses with its production values. Still, it’s easy to forget just how grisly things were in the first cour of the first season, and we’ve come a long way from there. For a long time now the animation and art has been the epitome of “good enough” – and with a source material this strong, that’s all it needs to be.

Preview by FJ Freeman

Can you tell I’m very excited?! Because I’m very excited! To tell you the truth I have read the source manhwa from start to finish (but not the light novel). The manhwa captured me with its art and unique take on the isekai genre if you could even call it that – Ore dake Level Up na Ken is I think more easily describable as isekai urban fantasy. This new take on the genre has been filling up web novels and webcomics with new authors trying out their hand in this exciting new venture. My favorite probably being Reincarnated as an Energy with a System. Although not quite similar, RES provides an interesting take on a reincarnated protagonist in a noncorporeal way! Makes for an interesting read.

Nevertheless, Ore dake Level Up na Ken is more on the line of an urban fantasy because characters live in the real world, and the fantasy comes to them instead of them going to the fantasy. With gates opening up around the city, guilds have formed around exploring said gates. And a bureaucratic system has been established around power and scaling systems. Our main character goes against all of that with his own level-up system. That comes with unique and interesting caveats.

During the manwha he goes from nothing to being so OP it’s mesmerizing, so hopefully A-1 Pictures can capitalize on this and bring a new and interesting anime to a genre that is frankly stale and starting to warm out its welcome. Might we see a new renaissance of anime that follows a similar premise? Only time will tell. For now, the premise of Ore dake Level Up na Ken seems promising. And at least my expectations are high with this one. It’s without a doubt the one to watch this season in my opinion.

Preview by FJ Freeman

A mysterious organization a return of a beloved series and a brand new studio to take the helm. What consists of season three of Ao no Exorcist features a unique premise! This time around the gang will have to uncover a mysterious organization that wants to destroy them. In an effort not to have manga spoilers let’s take a step back and remember what the universe of Ao no Exorcist consists of.

The narrative orbits around Rin Okumura, raised alongside his younger twin Yukio Okumura by father Shiro Fujimoto, a revered Exorcist. Fate takes a seismic turn when Rin discovers their lineage — sons of Satan. Tragedy strikes as Rin witnesses Shiro’s sacrifice to protect him, prompting Rin to unsheathe Kurikara, a demonic blade that suppresses his infernal abilities. Instantly, Rin transforms, sprouting demonic traits and wielding the power to unleash azure flames, obliterating all in their wake.

Driven by a fervent desire to follow in his guardian’s footsteps and confront Satan, Rin aspires to become an Exorcist. He enrolls at True Cross Academy, a prestigious exorcist institution, the Japanese arm of the True Cross Order, an international organization safeguarding Assiah from Gehenna’s dark influence. Unexpectedly, Rin discovers that Yukio, his brother, is already an accomplished Exorcist and even serves as one of his instructors. Thus unfolds Rin’s odyssey into Exorcism, navigating alongside his brother and newfound comrades, bound by a shared journey toward mastering their craft. Let’s just say it’s bound to be an interesting sequel and I’m eagerly awaiting seeing what’s in store!

Preview by Princess Usagi

Ichikawa Kyoutarou (Horie Shun) has a not-so-secret dark side- a fascination with murder and blood. Socially awkward, the brutal world of middle school presents all sorts of minefields for his neurotic mind. Until one day, he meets the biggest minefield of all- his classmate Yamada Anna Youmiya Hina, the gorgeous, popular model who has a penchant for sweets. Their outlook on themselves and each other slowly changes as their worlds collide. Could it be that Kyou has a (not-so) secret soft side?

Many of us have been there (I certainly have)- the awkward kid trying to navigate the challenges of social life, all the while overthinking everything. One reason why I love this series is that Kyoutarou channels that, in such an authentic way- but not only that, you can see him grow beyond that. The mangaka, Sakurai Norio, is genius and speaks to the heart, something which the expert director, Akagi Hiroaki, really hit home in the first season. Not only that, but the soundtrack, seiyuu, and Shin-Ei Animation staff really poured their heart into the production, which sets me with high hopes going into this second inning. If you haven’t already seen Boku Yaba, I can’t recommend it highly enough (there’s still time before season two!).

Preview by Pancakes

As a world renowned tank, Rud (Kasama Jun) is the star of the Hero’s party. No matter the adventure, no matter the raid, the guy can be counted on to aggro the critters, keep the party safe, and ensure there’s a hefty reward at the end of the struggle. At least until the hero kicks Rud from the party as the scapegoat for a raid gone bad. Dejected, Rud returns home to join back up with his sister, but along the way happens across a girl who thanks to her “Appraisal” skill tells him something quite shocking. It seems Rud’s talents aren’t just in defense alone – he comes equipped with some pretty significant and powerful abilities to boot. Is it enough to return Rud back to the adventurer life? One way or another he’s about to find out.

Ah hero party reject and defense-focused character, where have we seen these concepts before? Alright, tongue in cheek disparaging aside, it’s hard denying Saikyou Tank no Meikyuu Kouryaku is about as generic a fantasy as they come. This one is very much in the “episodic” adventure format, where Rud gets a few friends, goes dungeon spelunking, happens across a bad guy or three, and makes it home in time for supper. While there’s some differences around the edges (Rud is basically doing everything he does for the sake of his sister), in reality it’s pure window dressing in the end and if you’ve seen any similar series before you can quickly what will be on tap here. Don’t expect any surprise dark horses here, but should Saikyou Tank no Meikyuu Kouryaku make the most of its (still ongoing) source material, it’ll certainly be one for fantasy fans to at least keep an eye on this winter season.

Preview by Choya

As the title suggests, the story focuses on Gideon (Suzuki Ryouta), an adventurer who is shunned from his party after a devious, jealous, and perverse mage kicked him out of the party under everyone else’s jurisdiction. While his sister is furious and aims to seek him out, he moves to the peaceful town of Zoltan to fulfill his ultimate dream of a calm life as a pharmacist at his apothecary under the alias Red. His long-time friend Rit (Takao Kanon) gives up her princess title to join him as romance sparks between the two of them throughout the first season. But just as things seem to calm down, Red’s past catches up with him as his old party members arrive to throw a wrench in his peaceful retirement plans. This next season will show us the aftermath of this struggle as Red and Rit may finally be able to live out their lives without any more magical problems to deal with.

I don’t ordinarily play the “This got a S2, but not No Game No Life!?” game, but I’m popping my controller in for this one. Shin no Nakama ja Nai to Yuusha no Party wo Oidasareta node, Henkyou de Slow Life suru Koto ni Shimashita was a show that overstayed its welcome once it started trying to incorporate action into the show. The scenes where Red interacts with the town, helping them solve local issues, and offering herbal remedies to people in need were what made the show worthwhile. But the show also had a sense of anxiety over not throwing magic, swords, and fights in your face, so they made sure his old party was going to raise havoc and become the catalyst for many of the anime’s fights. The mage being the main villain was hard to appreciate, especially considering that a show like this doesn’t need to have superpowered villains and society-destroying threats. Hopefully, the second season will tap more into the slice-of-life elements of Red’s apothecary when it aims to heal this upcoming season.

Preview by Pancakes

Many associate reincarnation stories as one and done (or twice if being adventurous), but Rishie Imgard Wertsner (Hasegawa Ikumi) is now on round seven. Yes, seven. Previous lives were spent being a merchant and selling various goods to serving as a knight with a taste for swordplay, however what Rishie really wants now is to settle down and enjoy the good life for, well, once in her lives. There’s just one nagging detail stopping that dream in its tracks. For Rishie to sit back and relax, she must first marry the local prince Arnold Hein (Shimazaki Nobunaga), but said prince also happens to be her murderer from a previous life. Can Rishie overcome the impossible and make her latest life a breeze? One way or another she is about to find out.

I have to admit I got a great chuckle when digging into Loop 7-kaime, and not because it’s a less “evil” twist on the current reincarnated/isekai’d villainess premise that’s all the rage. This one really goes all in on its reincarnation trappings, giving Rishie a ridiculous amount of experience, placing her in the ubiquitous otome setup, and seeing just how well the girl sinks or swims once the pedal hits the metal. While there should be no delusions about this one being anything outside of derivative (it is technically an otome romance under the hood), with a strong cast and romance experienced crew headed by Koiseka’s Iwata Kazuya in the director’s chair, I dare say it stands a good chance at being a fun bit of derivation. After all, stranger series have wound up being major season surprises.

Preview by Princess Usagi

In the Kingdom of Fourland, playing your cards right really can be a matter of life or death, with playing cards that bestow special abilities on the players. Pinochle, a group of car salespeople by day and High Card agents by night, are tasked with gathering all the cards from the four corners of the kingdom- not as easy as it sounds when you’ve got the Klondike mafia on your tail. Finn (Satou Gen), an orphan looking to save his former orphanage, stumbles onto this mad, dangerous world by chance and is soon drawn into High Card’s mission.

With anime series that start out as anime originals, they can be hit or miss. I felt like the writing team as well as the director (Wada Junichi) did a fairly good job of keeping the story going through the first season. While it was not a masterpiece by any means, I enjoyed the whacky concept of playing card super powers and the nods to British themed espionage were fun. It looks like the second season will be digging deeper into the plot at large and scratching away at some of they mysteries surrounding Finn, which hopefully will prove as entertaining as the first.

Preview by Pancakes

For over a decade Rentt Faina (Suzuki Ryouta) has been literally hacking away at monsters. His dream is to be a great adventurer, but skill holds him back to such a degree that he’s left cleaning up the dredges of local slimes and goblins. Until he stumbles across a heretofore undiscovered path in the Labyrinth of the Moon’s Reflection. There Rentt comes across a legendary dragon, a beast which wastes little time in consuming him whole. Rather than die however, Rentt comes to, albeit not entirely as human. Reduced to a living skeleton, Rentt retains a measure of life, and with it a newfound goal. If he can be transformed into a pile of bones there’s a way to reverse it, and one way or another the aspiring adventurer will figure out how.

Anime, fantasy, and skeletons: at this stage there’s no more well-known combination. While easy to pin Nozomanu Fushi no Boukensha as yet another Overlord or Gaikotsu Kishi-sama (because skeletons), in truth this one plays out more like Saihate no Paladin where the emphasis is on expository atmosphere and slow development. Or in other words Rentt investigates, heavily muses to himself, and shares on adventures with numerous individuals coming and going. Similar to Paladin the setup here invites strong risk of monologues and infodumps overshadowing any true positive aspects, but provided this adaptation can temper such excesses and play to its strengths there’s a very good shot at getting a solid fantasy piece. I wouldn’t anticipate Nozomanu Fushi no Boukensha setting any records, but this one will definitely be up the alley of anyone needing some new fantasy material to ring in the new year.

Preview by Pancakes

The saviour; the chosen one; the hero: whatever title is assigned to the person selected for the most sacred of duties, it’s a title born from necessary and time-honoured circumstance. When the hero is found they are provided with every assistance, all required material and personnel, and more cheers and prayers than the local monarchy could ever see. Unless you happen to be Misumi Makoto (Hanae Natsuki). Like every other ordinary high schooler, Makoto never envisioned being summoned to an alternate world, but he was, and circumstance identified him as this world’s hero – until his looks threw a wrench into matters. Deemed abhorrent by the world’s goddess, Makoto was stripped of title, banished to the wilderness, and left to die. Perish he would’ve too, if not for his immense powers he acquired in the process. Overpowered and alone, Makoto has no idea what he’ll do now, but keeping on living seems to be a pretty reasonable goal.

As far as isekai go you can certainly do worse than Tsukimichi. Although ostensibly paint by numbers and thoroughly generic (not to mention cutting a few corners source material wise), the series’ emphasis on slapstick comedy and playing to the same self-aware parody themes as Konosuba enthusiastically did helped keep it a pretty entertaining ride back in 2021 – and that’s no small accolade considering what most mid-tier isekai is like these days. Make no mistake, anyone already exhausted by the concept and the usual OP truck-kun induced meme machine antics is unlikely to flip opinions here, but with J.C Staff once again at the animation helm alongside all major staff and with a story ready to spread its figurative wings, anyone who enjoys some alternate world shenanigans will be right at home with this sequel. Considering just how broad the isekai genre is these days, it’s all the reason any fan needs to keep an eye on Tsukimichi’s second outing this winter season.

Preview by Choya

The Imperial Army is embroiled in warfare with the Hellhorde when the Imperial Princess (Shiraishi Haruka) is taken captive along with her talking holy sword, Ex. Since this is a fantasy world where people take treaties seriously, regular torture is prohibited between the two parties. However, this doesn’t exclude unusual forms of torture that don’t harm prisoners. As such, the grand inquisitor has come up with a laundry list of torture tactics to make the princess talk. These come in the form of antagonizing her over things she could potentially enjoy if she answered their questions. These include contemporary foods and snacks, video games, and bubble wrap! Will the princess be able to endure this cruel, unusual form of torture? Will the Demon Lord even pay attention when the princess gives more vital information than the small tidbits she prefers to dole out? Find out in this agonizingly hilarious comedy.

From Senyuu mangaka Robinson Haruhara is a new fantasy comedy focused on an imprisoned princess enduring goofier, more wholesome methods of torture. Maoujou de Oyasumi had a similar premise, but rather than focusing on the princess’ many exploits throughout the castle to gather extra furnishings for her cell, this anime deals with how the princess’ captivity is affected by the oddball methods of torture that are given to her. Sounds like it could be relatively light-hearted, though torture is kind of a weird subject to make light of. Of course, it’s cutesy, more generous stuff like withholding a bowl of tasty ramen until the princess speaks up, so maybe they’ll manage to make it not have such an uncomfortable aura around it. Nevertheless, it should be interesting to see if Hime-sama “Goumon” no Jikan desu brings out the laughs this winter.

Preview by FJ Freeman

In the wake of the cataclysmic Tears of the New Moon, an unfathomable disaster that unleashed the deadly Blueshist rain upon humanity, over a century has elapsed. Slowly but resolutely, mankind has forged a path of recovery from the ruins left by this calamity. Amidst the scarred landscapes of the world, humanity seeks solace within scattered Nest”settlements. These resilient havens house both tenacious survivors and enigmatic humanoid entities known as Megas, each imbued with a dual-thinking AI. The year is now 2242 AD, and the dormant Megas, bereft of their memories, suddenly stir from their slumber…

Venturing forth from the depths where refuge was sought following the devastating Tears of the New Moon, humanity grapples with rebuilding their existence. The once-subterranean city-state of Amasia met its collapse, compelling survivors to reclaim the surface, harboring aspirations for a renewed life above ground. Across these scattered settlements, christened as Nests, intrepid adventurers known as Drifters engage in an unceasing battle against the lingering threats posed by the formidable Enders. Their pursuit extends to the excavation of vital AO Crystals, indispensable energy resources vital for sustaining the Nests’ operations. In the bustling Nest of “Rock Town,” where the paths of Drifters converge, a young aspirant named “Kanata” embarks on exploratory forays. Accompanied by the seasoned Drifter Tokio, an expedition into the remnants of an ancient museum unfolds a startling discovery—an ethereally slumbering being known as Magus.

As fate’s threads entwine upon the chance encounter with the enigmatic Noir, the tale of destinies intertwined and secrets yet untold begins to unravel, setting forth a narrative that bridges past and present, unveiling the mysteries that bind the world of humans and AI.

Preview by Choya

Kitami City is the snowy commercial hub of Hokkaido, known for its abundance in white pea beans, onions, and fresh scallops. High school boy Tsubasa Shiki (Shimazaki Nobunaga) hadn’t expected his move from Tokyo to Kitami to be as eventful until he had a fateful encounter with his classmate Minami Fuyuki (Sakura Ayane). The first detail that Tsubasa notices about Minami immediately is that she is engrossed in gal fashion. Despite the cold weather and rural spaces, Minami makes her gal appearance work, which draws Tsubasa even closer to her. Minami endears to Tsubasa quickly and aims to take the new city boy under her wing as she integrates him into her friend group. With Tsubasa getting more involved in the hidden pocket of gal culture within the wintery countryside, things are starting to look far different than they did back in Tokyo.

A friend I have has been following this one for a while and was ecstatic to hear about the upcoming anime. They loved how the romance developed in the manga as it plays with the differences between Minami and Tsubasa’s personalities. The former is a charismatic girl who adopts the gal fashion of the city yet loves the cold Hokkaido air, and the latter is a city boy who might not handle the cold well but has a warm heart, an open mind, and a brutally honest disposition. Their differences not only attract each other to one another but also open up Tsubasa’s inner circle as all of Minami’s friends wish to hang out with him now that she’s helped build a bridge towards her friend group. With all of the spellbinding drama that happens amid their blossoming relationship, it’ll be exhilarating to see how Dosanko Gal wa Namara Menkoi fares when it revels in the winter snow.

Preview by Pancakes

It’s not easy being part of demonkind, particularly if you’re one Akutsu Masatora (Uchida Yuuma). Sent to Earth to track down candidates to aid Hell in its fight against Heaven and its angels, Masatora decided to infiltrate a high school and assess its local student population. It doesn’t take Masatora long to find a suitable candidate either. Assigned a seat next to Amane Lily (Sakura Ayane), a recent transfer student, Masatora is quickly taken in by her beauty and charm and decides to recruit her to his cause. There’s just one minor catch. Lily you see happens to be doing something similar to Masatora, except for the opposing side, and has also managed to make Masatora an unwitting accomplice in her schemes. Normally it would be enough for the demon to break contact and start again, but once you’ve developed feelings, well, the choices become difficult.

Oh boy do we have a fun one here. At a glance you can think of Oroka na Tenshi as Masamune-kun if it decided to emulate Gabriel Dropout: both Masatora and Lily have ulterior motives, both soon discover what the other is after, and both are left trying to stick to their goals while coming to terms with teenage feelings and more personal desires. The parts I read were an absolute riot, particularly when it comes to Lily who fully embraces her inner sadistic brat and lets it run wild. Oh and also Masatora in part simply because he’s not a complete pushover. Mostly. While Oroka na Tenshi will likely turn off some given it’s a more ecchi flavoured version of the usual romcom shenanigans, if you like your romance funny or simply wanted a few additional laughs this season, you definitely want to keep this one on your winter radar.

Preview by Choya

The General (Asanuma Shintarou) is the head of an evil organization tasked with wiping out humanity and taking over the world. His goals make him the prime target of Earth’s mightiest defense force, The Rangers. But there’s one thing about the General that makes him a little different than other villains; he keeps work at work! On his day off, not even the Rangers can get in the way of his beauty rest. When the General is off the clock, he’d rather try new ice cream flavors, visit his beloved pandas at the zoo, and enjoy a bevy of secret hobbies. Will someone catch him in the act? Will these hobbies soften his view on humanity? Find out what happens when a bad guy has a nice day in Kyuujitsu no Warumono-san.

This one has a very cute premise since there aren’t many anime where they soften a tokusatsu villain for slice-of-life situations. Rather than replicating the many shows about demon lords settling on earth, this one leans on Super Sentai tropes where a ragtag group of rangers seeks out a malicious overlord hellbent on world domination. But the twist has a fun, cozy feel to it as it leans on the wholesome nature of how the General’s cold disposition thaws the moment he has a chance to take time off from being Earth’s archnemesis. It’ll be neat to see if it scratches that itch for comfort anime when it takes some time off for the winter season.

Preview by Pancakes

As far as Yumiella Dolkness (Fairouz Ai) is concerned life sucks. A count’s daughter, Yumiella is loathed for her stunning black hair, a feature yielding far more antagonism than deserved, and a feature also covering up an interesting fact: Yumiella is actually a villainess from a well-to-do otome RPG, and just happens to be the reincarnation of an incredibly introverted Japanese college student. Recalling memories of per past life at the age of five, Yumiella sets out to avoid her destined fate and live a life of peace and quiet, but quickly runs into trouble upon entering the regional magic academy when her power level is revealed to be through the roof. Enough so in fact that some, including the supposed game heroine, believe her to be the Demon Lord. Can a quiet introvert truly get lasting peace? Yumiella is about to find out.

To get the obvious out the way yes, Akuyaku Reijou Level 99 is yet another reincarnated villainess series and yes, it’s not going to be breaking any new ground. The main driver in this one is the mashup of setting and premise: Yumiella isn’t just a reincarnated otome villainess in the Bakarina vein, she’s also embraced her inner harem lead by going full OP machine. It’s enough to keep things relatively fresh, particularly given how introverted Yumiella is (the comedic situations write themselves), however anyone expecting any serious depth or complexity best check those expectations at the door; cookie cutter is the name of the game here. Don’t expect this to be a show for everyone, but provided Akuyaku Reijou Level 99 can keep the usual adaptation hacking and slashing under control, any fantasy fan in need of some simple laidback fun would do well to keep this one close at hand come winter’s start.

Preview by FJ Freeman

Step back into the mesmerizing world of SHAMAN KING with an electrifying new sequel that sets the stage for Hana Asakura’s gripping journey! As the son of the legendary Yoh and Anna Asakura, one might assume Hana’s life is a whirlwind of excitement and adventure. However, the reality proves starkly different. In the shadow of his illustrious lineage, Hana finds himself mired in the monotony of everyday life, yearning for a taste of something more. His days echo with an insatiable thirst for exhilaration, an itch he fervently seeks to scratch amidst the ennui.

But fate has its own plans for Hana. Just as he craves excitement, an unexpected turn of events thrusts him into the heart of an intense conflict—right within the confines of his own family circle. The serene facade shatters as the clash for Asakura supremacy emerges, a battle that brings unexpected challenges and unravels long-held truths. For Hana, this tumultuous confrontation marks not just a trial of strength but a test of his resolve and identity in a world steeped in spiritual prowess.

Amidst the clash of ideologies and aspirations, Hana Asakura is poised at the center, grappling with the weight of legacy and expectation. As he navigates the complexities of his lineage and the brewing turmoil within his family, he’s faced with choices that could redefine the very fabric of his existence. The journey that unfolds promises not only intense conflicts but also moments of self-discovery and revelation that may reshape the Asakura legacy forever. Get ready to embark on an epic odyssey alongside Hana Asakura as he navigates the trials of heritage, courage, and the untold secrets within the Asakura dynasty!

Preview by Pancakes

Dr. Song Jihyun (Ishikawa Yui), the youngest and most brilliant professor at Korea’s College of Medicine, has a secret: she’s actually the reincarnation of a bratty princess named Elise de Clorance who met a rather tragic end. That conclusion led Elise-cum-Jihyun to turn to saving lives, something which her remarkable career as a surgeon has helped enable. Yet such circumstances aren’t without shocks or surprises as Jihyun winds up discovering following a fatal oceanic plane crash. Coming to in the body – and world – of Elise, the girl finds out she’s back in her first life several years before her fated demise, only now with atoned personality and all the knowledge of modern medicine at her fingertips. Not even Elise can say if her recent “real-world” experiences will help overcome the future challenges awaiting her original self, but she’s going to stop at nothing to ensure she doesn’t fail.

If there’s one thing to say about Gekai Elise it’s that it will check off all the boxes for any shoujo – particularly female shoujo – fan. The reincarnation/isekai premise is basically a foundation for pure romance here, as Elise at heart is a young beauty with wicked smarts who must resort to love and romance fuelled shenanigans to find the path which doesn’t see her ignomiously offed. Although this one tends more towards Mary Sue territory than thematically similar works like Sugar Apple Fairy Tale (Elise in particular has a drama-mitigated solution for everything coming her way), it doesn’t lean all too hard into such aspects, leaving a story that while imperfect (from the bits I read) at least lives up to expectations. In short don’t anticipate Gekai Elise to make any serious waves this season, but one need look no further than this to scratch any otome romance itch.

Preview by Choya

There’s an old saying that claims that you will become a wizard if you haven’t lost your virginity by 30. In this particular story, office worker Kiyoshi Adachi (Kobayashi Chiaki) finds out the hard way that this saying is very much true. Upon celebrating his 30th birthday, he inexplicably gained the magical power of reading minds through physical contact. Although his new abilities force him to be proactive about crowded spaces, he can’t help himself when he passes by his attractive coworker Yuuichi Kurosawa (Suzuki Ryouta). As it turns out, Kurosawa has romantic fantasies and raging desires for a mystery coworker. Sounds spicy, but what makes it even spicier is that this mystery colleague is none other than Adachi himself. When Adachi pieces it all together, he finds his thoughts even more scrambled whenever Kurosawa enters the room. With the Spark Notes on Kurosawa’s desires in hand, how will Adachi navigate around his workplace relationship with the man who hungers for him?

BL anime has been in a tricky spot in the 2020s. More often than not, you’ll have to choose between tragedies you could recommend to your straight friends, modest fluff that your straight friends will say is the gold standard for all BL, or smuttier shows that were cheaply slapped together. In the instance of 30-sai made Doutei da to Mahou Tsukai ni Narerurashii, there is much to be excited about. For instance, the tongue-in-cheek kind of humor you’d expect from straight ecchi anime shines through in this show as Adachi navigates around both his wizarding powers and Kurosawa’s thoughts. At the same time, there is a sense of sentimentality the show has about Adachi’s virginal status as he tries to learn about both love and himself for the first time. The anime is also in good hands because you could point to any name among the staff of AnoHana and find someone who has been involved in some of the wildest stories aired on TV or screened in theaters. Hopefully, 30-sai made Doutei da to Mahou Tsukai ni Narerurashii proves to be a worthy watch when it becomes a wizard this January.

Preview by Enzo

Anime has been very unkind to legendary mangaka Mizukami Satoshi. And to all his fans. For almost two decades it ignored him altogether, apart from a flirtation with a Gainax adaptation of Hoshi no Samidare (that would have had a Pillows soundtrack and likely been beyond epic, but collapsed when the Pillows’ label refused to allow their music to be licensed). He got a one-cour original series in Planet With, but his manga remained unadapted until last year’s Naz hatchet job on Samidare – without a doubt one of the worst manga adaptations ever made (never mind of a great series).

Now, as 2024 dawns, fans of the Water God dare hope that our long drought may finally be coming to an end. This adaptation of Sengoku Youko from White Fox has a staff that could be described as solid more than exceptional, and the previews don’t look exactly lavish. But they look just fine, and that – along with solid – would elevate Sengoku Youko galaxies above what Biscuit Hammer was. This is such a great source material that even a workmanlike adaptation should be enough to lock down a top ten spot for any year, and slake the parched throats of Mizukami’s fans.

Sengoku Youko, like most of Mizukami’s works, is a fantasy-driven adventure that swings between rousing action, heartbreak, and hilarious comedy. I don’t consider it the equal of Spirit Circle but that’s about as high a bar as you can get – it’s a great manga. It’s set (unsurprisingly) during Japan’ Warring States era, in a world where powerful youkai called katawara and fearsome warrior monks who exterminate them roam the land. The protagonists are a mix of the two (I’ll just leave that there), and a uniformly interesting and endearing bunch of goofs. Nobody writes characters like that quite like Mizukami does.

The casting looks good, the adaptation is getting a theoretically sufficient 37 episodes (veteran writer Hanada Jukki refused to adapt it unless it got three cours) and all signs point to this being the series that finally breaks the Mizukami-anime curse. But his fans have too much scar tissue to take anything for granted.

Preview by Choya

Although humans and androids coexist in peace, there’s a team of androids known as the Immortal Nine that are deemed to be threats to the government. Rouge (Miyamoto Yume), an android agent, is tasked with assassinating these artificial humans alongside her partner Naomi (Kurosawa Tomoyo). They are sent to Mars for the mission, but things might be a lot more difficult than they seem. For instance, androids can blend in easily with the general populace, so when they aren’t in their mech forms, they can linger in the shadows easily. Another factor to complicates the mission is exactly why the government deems them as hostile. Could it muddy the waters of their mission if there is an ulterior motive for eliminating the Immortal Nine?

The hi-tech noir aspects of the anime should be exciting to dive into, though the meatiest part of Metallic Rouge is its background. The original anime was produced as part of Studio BONES’ 25th anniversary, and a number of their highly prolific staff members are taking part in the celebration. Hori Motonobu of Carole & Tuesday and Super Crooks fame will be helming the show and bringing his polished, stylish flair to the anime. The most exciting news is that RahXephon’s very own Izubuchi Yutaka will be handling chief directing and series composition, bringing some of BONES’ sci-fi pedigree to the project. Other notable staff members will be on board with one of the cooler additions being character designs from the studio’s co-founder and the face of 90s anime Kawamoto Toshihiro. Needless to say that Metallic Rouge should be hotly anticipated as a showcase to the studio’s top talent when it lands on the surface of the winter season.

Preview by Choya

At Most City, there’s a small publishing house that produces Delusional Monthly Magazine, a monthly publication that features articles about bizarre phenomena in the scientific sphere. Although most scientists quake at some of the outlandish findings that not even they could make sense of, their staff, comprised of editor-in-chief Tarou (Ishii Takahide), his assistant Jirou (Yamamoto Kazutomi), and a dog named Saburou, are capable of keeping it going. But one day, scientist Gorou Satou (Toki Shunichi) meets with them at a cafe to discuss a brand new story of his own. What comes of that meeting will change their fates forever as they come across strange foes and even stranger powers that turn them into beastmen! Perhaps the most outlandish part of this story is the friend they made along the way.

Sometimes, you need something a little silly to make sense of the madness in this world. So when I took a glimpse at the trailer for this show, I was cackling throughout it based on how ridiculous it all looked. The main litmus test as to whether you’ll like this will largely hinge on whether you can tolerate the campy atmosphere to look at cute guys for 24+ minutes. There isn’t much about the anime that makes it look like a grander experience than it looks, but if the story leans into the outlandish nature of its premise, then it should at least provide a safe, comfortable space to shut off your thinking cap and go along with the ride. Look forward to Gekkan Mousou Kagaku when it arrives this winter.

Preview by Choya

In the distant future, troops across the world have converged on Oahu, Hawaii, including Japan’s Isami Ao (Suzuki Ryouta) and the USA’s Lewis Smith (Azakami Youhei). As the two cross paths during battle, their armies are attacked by an unknown enemy that causes them to diverge from their friends and allies. Using humanoid armored weapons known as Titatonostrider or TS, they must gather up the strength, courage, and pride to survive and find their missing friends.

Although plot details are a bit scarce, one reason to have faith in this project is director Oobari Masami’s involvement. With his work on Gravion, Battle Arena Toshinden, Fatal Fury: The Motion Picture, and several niche mecha and high-profile hentai from the 90s and early 2000s, he’s one of the most fascinating directors I’ve come across in my previews. It’s the kind of sleazy filmography that reminds me of the conventions I used to go to where vendors would sell old bootlegs of Z-movies, ecchi, tokusatsu, and mecha OVAs like the ones Oobari has worked on. He’s also done plenty of contemporary Gundam shows as well, so he hasn’t strayed far from his expertise in mecha. Hopefully, Yuuki Bakuhatsu Bang Bravern will share the same kind of impulsive, daredevil energy when it arrives this winter.

Preview by Choya

Ataru (Kamiya Hiroshi) is a lecherous pervert who is as shameless in his skirt-chasing as he is desperate. But when he winds up in a marriage contract with an alien oni named Lum (Uesaka Sumire), his entire life is flipped upside down. His uncouth ways are regularly punished with Lum’s electrical powers, the relationship he was in before has pretty much deteriorated, and now all of the boys in school and space have a bone to pick with him. Luckily, Lum is a caring, dedicated fiance, so she is always quick to protect him from any threats, even if it costs him his free will. Can he reconcile with his old fiance, or will his new one just have to do? Check and see if this 2nd season offers up some new answers.

The David Productions reboot of Urusei Yatsura has been a good clip show of some of the classic anime’s finest moments. There are some extra twists and turns to bring the series over to the 21st century, but overall, the characters you saw back then are still the ones you see now. Funny enough, I watched through a few of the Urusei Yatsura films this summer, and it’s hard to look at Ataru without harboring a deep scorn for how he treats Lum. But to his credit, the show doesn’t shy away from his empathetic, altruistic side as he feels truly attached to Lum despite his horndog tendencies. Other new characters were introduced throughout the second cour of season one, so it should be cool to see what they bring to the table along with some other new additions when Urusei Yatsura returns.

Preview by Princess Usagi

In a world where powerful witches who can cast almost unbreakable curses, no end of mysteries and miseries abound. The sleuthing pair, Ashaf (Morikawa Toshiyuki) and Guideau (Taichi You) travel about the land on assignments with the Order of Magical Resonance, solving mysteries related to magic. Guideau has miseries of his own, having been cursed by a witch and is on a mission to find her. All of that is turned upside down when the duo discovers a village where the witch is considered the stolid defender of the people rather than a danger.

For starters, I find the premise compelling- there have been plenty of interesting ways in which the supernatural/curses and mysteries have been combined in anime form, take Kemono Jihen or Vanitas no Karte. For another, it does fall into the seinen demographic, which because of the tone and breadth of stories often featured, tends to be my go-to genre. Apparently, the series has been put into hiatus due to the mangaka’s health- not sure how or if that will affect the anime at all in terms of needing anime original material. But regardless, I would recommend checking this one out if the idea of magic and mysteries floats your boat.

Preview by Pancakes

For one little Ivy (Suzuki Aina), stars and their meaning are everything. To be born under the right star grants status and abilities; to not, well, implies otherwise – and Ivy happens to be the latter. Born starless and blessed only with the skill of monster taming, Ivy is ostracized by her village and forced to flee when her caregiver finally passes away. Yet not all is lost for the tiny tamer. Her running away lets her stumble across a weak little slime she names Sora, and though Ivy’s taming prowess is fledgling, it’s enough to help her tame and befriend it. And now with the whole world before her to explore, Ivy will show that there’s more to be starless than meets the eye.

Anyone who’s been around fantasy long enough can probably guess what Saijaku Tamer is all about. This one is very much in the cute and wholesome spirit, taking lackadaisical adventuring, pairing it with an eclectic mix of fantasy character archetypes, and letting Ivy’s cute girl antics flesh out the rest. It’s nothing particularly unique (slimes for one are a running seasonal theme these days), but Saijaku Tamer’s lighthearted, slice-of-life nature and the soft reincarnation trappings – because yes, that’s part of Ivy’s backstory – do help in part to keep things moving and the various arcs relatively entertaining. Don’t expect any masterpiece miracles on the part of Saijaku Tamer, but I would definitely give it some attention if in need of a good bit of cutesy and relaxing slice-of-life this winter season.

Preview by Choya

Susukino is a vibrant district in Sapporo that thrives in all aspects of nightlife, from good eats and great times to bustling clubs and love hotels. Five stations away, however, is the North 24th neighborhood which captures what makes Susukino as lively as it is on a smaller scale. Within this particular neighborhood is the Snack Buss, a fun, bustling bar run by two mamas, Basue (Kimiko Saitou) and Akemi (Takahashi Rie). As they work their regular shift, they encounter customers who may just be some of the most interesting people in Sapporo. With an even balance of eccentric guests and good laughs, there’s never a dull day at Snack Bus.

I’m always looking forward to food anime, especially ones like Snack Basue that focus on the many guests who show up to a bar looking for quick yet tasty bites and brews. Midnight Diner had that kind of charm with its episodic explorations of the people who seek out certain comfort foods in times of struggle. With this particular show, however, it leans more into the comedy sphere as we see the eccentric clientele who love this one small bar in Sapporo. Doing a little research on the kind of grub you can get in Susukino has me so hungry, but I know that Snack Basue aims to be a hilarious take on what it’s like to find new friends as the night rolls in. And as the night rolls in, so do the good times when Snack Basue makes its reservation for the winter season.

Preview by Choya

Inspired by “One Thousand and One Nights”, the anime focuses on Tomoshibi Araji (Ookawa Genki), a new transfer student at Ichizu High School who reunites with an old friend named Asamine Matakara (Hoshino Yuusuke). The joy of this reunion is short-lived though as the school is home to many delinquents who prove to make Araji’s high school experience harrowing, intense, and fearful. The presence of a genie, however, may even the odds as Araji’s wish to lose his cherry is the catalyst that helps him grow strong enough to be on equal footing with some of the school’s scarier delinquents who don’t like the cut of Araji’s jib.

The combination of delinquent comedy and “Arabian Nights”-inspired action is fascinating. It is an original anime so there are bound to be some wonderful twists and turns to come from Hiroko Utsumi, the director of Free, Banana Fish, and SK8 the Infinity. On top of that, it has a great atmosphere to it as an action-packed anime taking place in a school for superpowered delinquents. However, this is also one of the first MAPPA productions to follow Jujutsu Kaisen S2, which has shed light on the mistreatment that their animators have had to contend with for some time now. Hopefully, the controversy will give their animators the proper time and care to work on BUCCHIGIRI?! without any reports of abuse, but it is a proper concern to have since they’ve been repeatedly stretching their animators thin. If I had two wishes from Majin Senya, one would be for MAPPA to treat its animators better, and one would be for BUCCHIGIRI?! to live up to its potential next year.

Preview by Princess Usagi

Fire, once one of the greatest inventions of humankind, becomes one of its greatest enemies following the repercussions of the Last War, wherein biological weapons render humans defenseless to flame. People spontaneously combust when near even small flames and Flame Spirits that live in a dangerous forest are the only usable fuel. Any hope of survival comes in the form of Firecatchers, who, as their name suggests, catch these flamelings. Stories circulate about “The King of Fire Hunters”, a chosen one who will capture a “Wandering Spark” comet. As the rumors spread, an orphaned city boy, Koushi (Ishige Shouya), meets country girl Toko (Kuno Misaki)-how will they alter the course of history?

Unfortunately, the first season did not quite live up to my expectations (cue some weird shots and frankly awful moments of animation) and the story dragged a bit in some areas. However, the anime did have some unique takes on the post-apocalyptic fantasy genre and had enough to it to keep me mildly interested in where it would take the story next, as indeed it did tease some intriguing directions towards the end. I plan to tune in to whet that curiosity and hope you will too!

Preview by Pancakes

In 1874, at the height of the Meiji Restoration, Orikasa Shimuza (Nakamura Yuuichi) embarks on a quest to find his missing fiancée. It’s not an easy task for Shimuza though; as a former samurai in the employe of the Aizu clan, he’s soon thrust into the ranks of an ad hoc police force pursuing a conspiracy out to topple the fledgling imperial government. It is this conspiracy where another proficient swordsmen in Kyoushirou Shurashin (Mikami Satoshi) finds himself. Linked by contract to the Moriya clan, the centre of efforts to overthrow the imperial government, Shurashin is out for personal gain, but his work will soon have him cross paths with Shimuza, and with it set the stage for the greatest showdown Meiji Japan has seen to date.

As a late premiere announcement, Meiji Gekken certainly wins the award for most surprising – and most unknown – of the bunch. This one is a true anime original, produced at the behest of Crunchyroll and in the works since at least 2015. That alone already raises some red flags given how well Crunchyroll’s productions have gone to date (Shield Hero anyone?), but the one positive is this being a proper historical work. Trailer and synopsis hint towards something along the lines of Golden Kamuy or Revenger, where displaced misfits and agitated individuals find themselves at the centre of societal upheaval and significant uncertainty. Add in some pulp action, spice with a dash of shounen-esque abilities, tack on a pretty well-rounded cast for the respective roles, and darling you’ve got yourself a decent bit of popcorn entertainment. I wouldn’t go as far to think Meiji Gekken will be automatically running away with the season, but anyone after a good dark horse candidate need look no further than this.