My Top Anime Series of 2023 Retrospective
I'm writing this post as the Summer 2024 anime season runs and the outside temperatures are blisteringly hot. I watched dozens of anime in the last couple of years and it is always interesting to see what stood out from the crowd. So many shows are probably going to sink into the sands of time, but then, isn't this always the case for any creative media be it anime, live-action movies, TV series or novels. On the bright side, many anime are based on manga or light novels so the authors of this source material would be thrilled to have an anime made from their work - period - I know I would. Having said this, there was still plenty of entertainment that was worth watching once!
The anime I chose are just my favourites. Everyone is going to have their own choices or even have long running series that they love. In retrospect, it turns out that 2023 was an awesome year of anime overall. It kind of surprised me as I thought it was good, but a review showed me just how good. 2024 on the other hand doesn't have the same number of stand-outs so far. I'll write about 2024 later as there was already a pile to write about for 2023.
So what did I consider really good in 2023?
Not counting outstanding movies like Suzume.
Shows that were new:
Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury. One of the best Gundam series so far, with engaging heroines, and yet another future dominated by space corporations. Between this and Gundam Seed, they are in the top two slots for Gundam. The characters really drive this show and you get mobile suit action. If you don't like mecha shows, you might appreciate this one.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End. A slow moving, reflective fantasy anime around a thousand year old elf who battles demons. Frieren has a great story and characters. There isn't much I don't like about it. The show is about the personal emotion growth of an introspective elf after the Demonlord is defeated. Through her journeys with her shorter-lived companions she learns to appreciate her friendships. love, and be a better elf. This show is a really good adaptation based on the manga and one of my favourite anime and manga - I bought all the manga which is rare these days.
Shangri-La Frontier. Yet another show set in the confines of a really realistic full dive MMORPG, but it manages to make itself standout brilliantly. The main character is a hardcore gamer which most people wouldn't relate to normally, but they pulled off some great storytelling to still give the characters more depth and the action scenes are stunning. Frieren also has some great action scenes, but Shangri-La does more of it.
Solo Leveling. Dungeons appear in the modern world and super-humans emerge to tackle them. A weak hero kind of dies and gains the ability to super-level up from that. This Korean manwa adaptation has great action scenes and enough depth to the world/character to make it better than many of the rest.
Apothecary Diaries. I was surprised to really like this anime set in a fantasy world which has characteristics of the imperial Chinese court. Palace intrigue, the lives of concubines, and a spunky heroine who happens to be an expert herbalist and poison tinkerer make this a show that makes you return for the next episode. Really well paced and done. Expert storytelling and a deep main character who charms you make this one of my favourite anime.
Kaina of the Great Snow Sea. Finally, some good science fiction that isn't robots. The world building is fascinating and well done in this series which is set upon an alien world. There are some weird things about the Snow Sea that I still don't understand, but this show was a breath of fresh air for the setting.
Spy x Family. Who hasn't heard of Spy x Family. Technically this is a second season, and the cruise ship arc is so darn funny. Super popular show and I think it is one of the most entertaining and well done series around right now. This franchise has so much merchandise it overflows.
7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy. A Groundhog Day type series where the protagonist keeps dying at the hands of the same man. During her multiple repeats, she has amassed a fair number of skills for business, science, and combat which come in handy. In her current existence she ends up marrying the prince who has literally killed her personally once and the story is about her trying to undo her fate and understand the prince at the same time. Quite an enjoyable story.
Tearmoon Empire. This is another Groundhog Day type series where the protagonist gets to relive events that lead up to her death as the imperial princess. She keeps remembering she got guillotined (nice touch) and tries to change events. This show was really charming up the the last 1/4 which was more average. Did enjoy it quite a bit.
Hell’s Paradise. What a diverse cast of characters - none of whom are heroes. They are all anti-heroes and they need to survive on an island of the gods to look for a potion of immortality. Who knew flowers could be so deadly. Nicely animated and very imaginative in setting and plot twists.
Kaiji No. 8. This show gets a special mention. It is about a man who can transform into a kaiju to battle kaiju. It sounds pretty run of the mill in concept, but it is absolutely brilliantly implemented with many classic Shonen tropes. The hero, Kafka is an endearing man who cares about all of his friends and has a simple desire to be by the side of his childhood friend. I like this show so much I have all the manga to get ahead of the series. There's plenty of mystery and action in this show, and I believe it has wide appeal to most anime viewer and even non-anime viewers. This show is actually a 2024 spring season show, but 2024 has been lackluster as of summer. A few new interesting shows and many returning shows. Some shows of note are: Wisteria Wand and Sword, Tonari no Yokai-san, Mushoku Tensi, Laid-Back Camp, Konosuba, Reincarnated as a Slime, and Tsukimichi)
2023 Continuing shows:
These were all additional seasons to already popular shows. Worth a watch if you had started the series.
Attack on Titan final season. Final wrapup and it brings a pretty epic conclusion to things.
Goblin Slayer S2. More goblins being slain in a D&D manner.
Jujutsu Kaisen S2 Shibuya Arc. I really like the show up to this season which basically jumped the shark. There were so many casualties I couldn't imagine governments covering this up and also going all out against the curse spirits in some manner.
The Rising of the Shield Hero S3. More shield hero.
The Faraway Paladin S2. Nice development of the paladin into a greater character.
Dr. Stone S4. I enjoyed the first season a ton, the second season less, and I'm glad this one wrapped up.
Golden Kamuy. Always a bit over the top and fun in the frontier lands of Hokkaido. Waiting for the final wrapup at some point in the future.
Rent a Girlfriend. Still watching, but the character development is painfully slow.
In/Spectre. A good Japanese urban fantasy series with many mysteries to solve.
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon S3. A real survival arc in the dungeon.
Standout Isekai:
The isekai genre has the protagonist is transported/reborn in another world with superior abilities. Anime is drowning with these shows, but I'm not surprised as it is escapist fiction of the purest form from the crappiness perceived in our real world.
The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic. High school students are transported to another world with one gaining healing magic. It seems like a useless skill in combat at the beginning, but it becomes very useful. This was an isekai series that was nicely executed and brought some originality. Very enjoyable.
Villainess Level 99: I May Be the Hidden Boss But I’m Not the Demon Lord. This show is just fun with a charming villainess character with her klutzy social IQ. Well worth a watch.
I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in The Real World, Too. Seems like a pretty typical isekai series but I thought it developed the main character who spends time in both the real world and the fantasy world. Two sets of love interests for each world, lots of character development, and of course, his super human skills work in both worlds too - nice touch. Some nice animation puts this one on the favourite list.
Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for my Retirement. The heroine dies and gains the power to travel between our world and a fantasy world where she builds up a shop that sells our modern tech/food. Just a fun show and there is even a mercenary group helping her in our world. Some great concept battles and such make this one stand out a bit, but the animation is kind of average.
Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill. You have amazing cooking skills, can online shop for cooking related goods from our world, and have a giant wolf-fenrir as a guardian teaching you magic. This is a fun show. Lots of tasty food and I look forward to a second season if there is one.
Shows Watched in 2023
I might not have finished all of them, but there was a lot of viewing. My favourites come from this list.
- Kaiju No. 8
- 7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy.
- Banished from the Hero’s Party, I Decided to Live a Quiet Life in the Countryside
- Doctor Elise: The Royal Lady with the Lamp
- The Unwanted Undead Adventurer
- Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
- Metallic Rouge
- Sasaki and Peeps
- Shangri-La Frontier
- Solo Leveling
- Apothecary Diaries
- NieR:Automata
- Metallic substance
- Sword Art Movies
- The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic
- Villainess Level 99: I May Be the Hidden Boss But I’m Not the Demon Lord
- Maiji Gekken: 1874
- A Returner’s Magic Should Be Special
- Attack on Titan final season
- Bullbuster
- Goblin Slayer S2
- Jujutsu Kaisen S3 Shibuya Arc
- Kaina of the Great Snow Sea
- My Daughter Left the Nest and Returned an S-Rank Adventurer
- The Strongest Tank's Labyrinth Raids -A Tank with a Rare 9999 Resistance Skill Got Kicked from the Hero's Party
- I Got a Cheat Skill in Another World and Became Unrivaled in The Real World, Too
- Spy x Family
- Suzume
- Tearmoon Empire
- The Saint’s Magic Power is Omnipotent S2
- Under Ninja
- Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead
- The Kingdoms of Ruin
- The Rising of the Shield Hero S3
- The Faraway Paladin S2
- Am I Actually the Strongest?
- Reborn as a Vending Machine, I Now Wander the Dungeon
- Sweet Reincarnation
- The Great Cleric
- The Masterful Cat is Depressed Again Today
- Dr. Stone S4
- Golden Kamuy
- Hell’s Paradise
- Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury
- Summoned To Another World for a Second Time
- The Aristocrat’s Otherworldy Adventure Serving God Who Go Too Far
- Why Raeliana Ended Up at the Duke’s Mansion
- The Café Terrace and Its Goddesses S1
- BOFURI: I Don’t Want to Get Hurt, so I’ll Max Out My Defense S2
- Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill
- Chillin’ in My 30s after Getting Fired from the Demon King’s Army
- Handyman Saitou in Another World
- Rent a Girlfriend
- In/Spectre
- Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon S3
- Malevolent Spritis: Mononogatari
- Reborn to Master the Blade: From Hero-King to Extraordinary Squire
- Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for my Retirement
- The Fruit of Evolution: Before I Knew it, My Life Had it Made
- The Ice Guy and His Coll Female Colleague. Nice romance.
- The Reincarnation of the Strongest Exorcist in Another World
- Tomo-Chan is a Girl - this show had a nice twist on the boy and girl who need to move beyond friendship trope.
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