2023 Anime Winter Ranking, pt. 1 (39-21)
It's taken me ages to actually finish this post. I've had it written for over a month but I wanted pictures, and now here I am over half way through the 2023 Spring Season and I'm just now posting this thing. *sigh*
Ah well. Can't change the past. So, let's get my 2023 Anime Winter Ranking (positions 39 through 21) started at the very bottom of the list with my first abandoned anime of the season.
39/39 - Inu ni Nattara Suki na Hito ni Hirowareta
This anime has one purpose and one purpose only. Fap material. The four short episodes I saw spent the entirety of their time on sexualizing the high school girls and that was it. No plot. No character development. Nada.
Tack on to that mess the questionable nature of the I-Canât-Believe-Itâs-Not-Hentai, being very nearly bestiality, and you have a recipe of Nope. I quit this one three and a half episodes later than I should have.
38/39 - The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel â Northern War
I was intrigued by the trailer and intro, but the anime turned out to be a snoozefest. The characters were bland, the politics were confusing and vague, and the action was lackluster. I couldnât care less about anyoneâs story or goals except for the main character, a bit. Maybe it would make more sense if I played the video games first, but I just lost motivation somewhere around episode six or seven.
37/39 - Ningen Fushin: Adventurers Who Don't Believe in Humanity Will Save the World
This show disappointed me more than any other this season.Â
I liked the premise, I like the characters, and there were some really good signs early on in the season that it might actually be able to do interesting things with those characters and the themes of abuse, trauma, and trust. I was still enjoying myself through the middle of the season, but cracks were starting to show.Â
The animation quality was dropping, sometimes in funny ways - mostly not - but then the last few episodes came. I cannot stress how much I dislike the way they handled the themes of the final arc for the season. The penultimate episode especially, in everything from writing, to characterization, to plot, to animation, it failed it all. Â
I mean, they tried to elicit sympathy for a multi-child-murderer, and the main characters who are supposed to have trust issues and not really believe in humanity feel and give that empathy, even when their own character backstories make that idea ridiculous.Â
The end credit song is a bop, at least.
36/39 - Reborn to Master the Blade: From Hero-King to Extraordinary Squire
After a solid first episode and a decent second episode, the show steadily slipped down from there. Unfortunately, there is not much mastering of the blade happening. For that matter, the main character is already as powerful as she needs to be. It is one thing to have a battle junkie personality if you also pair it with hard training and interesting fights. It is quite another when you instead pair it with the instant overpowered nature of your average Isekai protagonist, and middling animation and art style for the fights.
Inglis just isnât a good character. She feels like a strange outlier in the story. Nothing is ever really about her, or pushed forward by her. Instead, she is merely along for the ride hoping for another big fight. That might be fine if she was a side character, or was paired with a character who had her loyalty as well as a strong personality, or set of beliefs or ambition. Instead, her best friend is constantly questioning what she should do, what right and wrong are, and she does not have any clear ambitions or goals.Â
When she asks Inglis what the right thing to do is, Inglis responds by basically saying, idk, âeverybody has their own version of ârightâ.â Sorry, but I donât think that cuts it when the actions in question are to totally disregard human life.
The clear class and racial struggles in this world, which could be very interesting, take a backseat to big but boring magical battles that have very little stakes or pay off. There is a kernel of an interesting idea with the division between concepts of magic and aether , but it is never fully explored. The world is kinda dull in execution, the interpersonal drama is bland, and the interesting plot elements seems to largely take place off screen.
Honestly, the only reason this is higher than âNingen Fushin: Adventurers Who Don't Believe in Humanity Will Save the World,â is because at least it was fairly honest about what it was the entire time and did not have the same extreme dips in animation quality. I had less to be disappointed about.
I would not recommend this show.
35/39 - Nijiyon Animation
34/39 - Oh, Suddenly Egyptian God, s2
Iâm lumping these two together because they are both series of shorts, 3-5 minutes long per episode, and they are both cute but boring. Egyptian Gods is my preferred of the two because it has a fun art style and is completely self-contained, whereas Nijiyon is likely more enjoyable if you know the original series, which I do not.
33/39 - The Iceblade Sorcerer Shall Rule the World
I was convinced for the longest time that this would be the worst anime that I watched all the way through the end. I wasnât terribly far off, but it did surprise me once or twice.
The animation is basic. The main character and plot are about as bland as you can get. The side characters are pretty interesting, though.
Amelia in particular had an interesting arc. The main character was most enjoyable whenever he was interacting with her or his muscle-buddy, Evi. Or when he was crossdressing.Â
There were a few moments of genuine humor, or particular scenes or character moments that I felt were good. But, on the whole, it was a very mid anime. If you are addicted to power fantasy, you might enjoy it.
As a final note, I despise the ending credits. Not the song, but the visuals. Itâs basically just four body pillow images that are slowly panned over for about a minute and a half. Jeez.
Spy Classroom is kind of a weird one. It has an interesting plot structure. The first three episodes sets up the premise, but then jumps to the future to show the conclusion. Then the following episodes go back to show what happened between the start of the story and the conclusion. That doesnât really work to strengthen the story, but does set up a playground to explore the characters. I think it works for the kind of story they want to tell, but it makes the stakes feel pretty toothless after the third episode.
The worldbuilding is incredibly thin. There is the nation they work for, and the nation they are in a shadow war against, but I couldnât tell you anything about either of them except that they are both bad. The nation they are against stole a bio weapon and was willing to use it, but their nation created the thing. There are other nations alluded to in the area. Itâs sorta European. Thatâs as much as I gleaned from the whole thing.
The art style and animation are solid, but not standout, and the music feels much the same.
The primary enjoyment to be had in the show are the characters. It has decent character work with two or three of the girls, whoâs backstory, motivations, and abilities are explored. Most of the rest, however, are boiled down to archetypes or become entirely defined by their specialty.Â
The teacher is a fun character as a spy genius who is a terrible teacher. He acts as a foil to the girls, a role model, a fascination, an obstacle, a mystery, and a mentor rolled into one (as well as the object of one of the girlsâ affection - though he is clear in his rejection of her, thankfully). The conceit that the girls have to defeat him to complete their training is fun as well.
Still, the show doesnât manage to accomplish anything particularly noteworthy, has too thin a world to get invested in, and doesnât rise to the next level with its characters. Itâs just fine. A mildly enjoyable, if forgettable, show to watch.
The ups & downs in this anime are wild. The art style is terrific, but the animation sucks. The characters & world are complex, but there are odd worldbuilding choices that donât make sense if given half a thought, & the season doesnât have a proper ending - like a story cut off at the halfway mark. At least itâs getting another season to hopefully make good on the awesome parts & make up for the terrible ones.Â
30/39 - BOFURI: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, so I'll Max Out My Defense -(s2)
This is a hard one for me, because I love the first season, and there is nothing strictly bad about this second season. I still like the characters - itâs still a chill ride - itâs fine. The problem for me is that the novelty and charm of the first season hasnât been developed further for the second season. Thereâs been no clear progression in terms of the story line, characters, or even the humor. There were certainly still plenty of things I liked about it, a few moments that genuinely got a laugh or chuckle from me, and I never felt bad about watching an episode, but it just felt kind of flat.
29/39 - Farming Life in Another World
I like the concept - as others have said, itâs a bit like Stardew Valley - though if I had to compare it to a video game, the one that gave me the most similar vibes was Minecraft, and boy I loved it for that! Made me want to play again.
The anime is a nice chill time. Thereâs never any real conflict. It all comes down to meeting new people (suspiciously almost entirely cute ladies), chatting, sharing the good life, and expanding the farm/village.
Its greatest strength is giving the viewer an easy-breezy time to drift away from worries and just relax.
Unfortunately that strength is also a weakness. It falls into the "cute but boring" trap. The show started very strong, and the concept works for a good 5 episodes before it starts wearing thin. Without some kind of plot, or at least more interesting characters to meet, or some kind of drama, it just fizzles.
Thatâs not to say I didnât still enjoy my time with it. It was relaxing. It just never takes a step beyond that. Itâs only fine.
28/39 - Saving 80,000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement
The premise was fun, and I really like the extra wrinkles that were added to the typical isekai formula. However, while it was fun to watch the main character interact with the other world, and use her abilities in interesting ways, the show never really stood out above the rest for me. The animation was bland. The art design was fine. The characters were good, but they did not connect with me the way many from the other shows this season did.
It was a jack of all trades, master of none, sorta deal.
I enjoyed my time with it, but there are plenty more interesting Isekai out there right now.
High Card combines the colorful aesthetics of the Power Rangers with the slick spy vibe of Kingsman. The animeâs card-based power system is well-executed, with each player possessing a unique ability, which adds some variety to the fights. However, while the powers are nicely done, they lack the creativity and weirdness of similar systems, like the Stands in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure or the abilities in Bungo Stray Dogs.
The characters tend to fall into archetypes, but the two main characters, Chris and Finn, do receive some depth even though itâs all fairly standard stuff. The series is at its strongest in the first few and last few episodes, with the middle episodes being merely okay. The show's plot has good twists and turns, but while the big third act reveal is great, I could predict everything that was going to happen from there. Except for the first episode, it never really surprised me or otherwise got me hyped.
Despite its flaws, "High Card" is a decent show that occasionally hits its stride, though it never reaches greatness. The series is a solid ride, and the announcement of a second season is welcome news, as there is plenty of room for the story and characters to grow.
26/39 - The Vampire Dies in No TimeÂ
The familiar faces are all here, and the animation and aesthetics are the same as the first season - not bad, but not amazing. Some episodes and jokes had me laughing out loud, while others were only so-so. It's definitely still funny, but it's not quite as funny as season 1.
Since it's a gag anime, you're not going to get much plot or character growth - still there's really none at all this time around. That's a letdown when season 1 did have some great moments of character development. But you know who is always a treat? Jon. That armadillo is still stealing the show in every scene he's in.
Overall, "The Vampire Dies in No Time" second season is still a light and fun time. It might not be as good as the first season, but it's still worth a watch. If you're a fan of the first season, you'll probably like this one too. Fingers crossed for more!
25/39 - The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten
I have heard this anime described as just as wildly unrealistic and wish-fulfillment-driven as any harem anime. I would have to agree. The core relationship of this anime is sweet, beautiful, and completely and utterly unrealistic.
However, much like a good harem anime, very unrealistic romances like this one can still be done well. In this case, I believe it was done quite well.
Both characters are very nice and sweet and it is fun to watch them slowly learn more about each other and slowly fall in love. Also, for those of you out there who might worry about this series never going anywhere with the will-they-wonât-they aspect, even though both characters seem to be dense as bricks at times, the show does go somewhere by the end and I found it satisfying.
This show probably wonât knock your socks off or anything, but it is like a warm blanket - it's pleasant to watch. I give it a soft recommendation.
Also, all hail the 3rd main character, Couch-kun!
I still donât know if this is a second season, a second cour of one season with another season coming later, or the second of four cours of one season.
Well, whatever, this is still a fun show with archetypal characters, absurd situations, and solid gag humor. If you liked the first portion that was released last year, you will probably like this one.
23/39 - The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Colleague
I liked this anime a lot more than I was expecting. There are three will-they-won't-they couples and they are all adorable - especially the main pair. That is a very good thing, since the soft and sweet romance at the heart of the story is the focus of the show. There is no plot and there is no real character development - all of the drama is purely focused on the character relationships. Thankfully those relationships are chill and sweet.Â
I could easily see this anime being too boring for some viewers, but despite my history of finding cute "Slice of Life" anime to usually be bland, I found myself invested in these relationships.Â
Unfortunately, that does lead to one of my biggest complaints - we go a whole season without any clear relationship progress. In a season where many romance shows have confessions and first kisses (or more!) it's a little frustrating to have a romance focused show that doesn't see the main couple taking the next step.
I like the character designs, and though the animation was not a standout, I really like the touch of the shifting irises in the characters' eyes. It made them feel a little more alive and emotive. My favorite artistic touch, of course, are the little snowmen that pop out whenever the main character is happy.
It was cute. It was warm. I thoroughly enjoyed every episode. If you like soft and sweet romances, give it a shot.
22/39 - Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill
Despite not having the word âchillâ in its name, this is probably the chillest anime of the season. Basically 1/3rd of the anime is a lavishly animated cooking show and the other 2/3rds was watching a trio of friends with vastly different personalities traveling the countryside.
There is the proud and very hungry fenrir, the cutest slime in all of anime, and a simple guy with cooking skills and an Amazon account. Fenrir and the slime kill monsters while the human character huddles in fear, and then he cooks for them using the monster's meat.
Occasionally they will jaunt into the local town to have their monsters butchered, and to sell goods, much to the shock and wonder of the local populace. Occasionally, some goddesses show up demanding sweets in return for blessings.
Itâs cute and fun. The animated food is gorgeous. I had a good time. In many regards, it does not matter that it does not have anything resembling a story, or character development. Just pretend it is a cooking show set in a fantasy world with cute skits to set up the next meal. Itâs a good time, it just did not burrow into my heart like the best of the season did.
21/39 - Chillin' in My 30s After Getting Fired from the Demon King's Army
This one started out lower on my list, and then slowly climbed up to take its place in the solid middle of the pack. The reason for this is, I think, pretty clear. What the show does best is relationships, and family drama. It actually does a pretty good job in my opinion of capturing the vibe of being a hardworking guy in your 30s who just got fired for petty reasons.
Dariel is a pretty basic guy, perhaps a bit bland for an anime protagonist, but somebody who would be a totally chill bro to be friends with. It was fun watching him find a home, find friends, and rebuild a life for himself. In a season that is plentiful with romantic relationships that actually develop, Dariel's relationship manages to develop the most.
It is certainly as full of wish fulfillment as you might imagine, and it has plenty of fan-service, though not overly so in my estimation. The fantasy elements are nice but not super important. The world-building does not really make much sense. It feels like the demons and humans could come to an understanding if they just went to family therapy and talked over the dinner table a few times. The animation is fine, but not spectacular. The same applies for the art style.Â
All these things are weaknesses, or at least, not strengths, to be sure. But, in the end, it was a very enjoyable watch. It had fun humor, characters I came to care for, and never did anything that really put me off. Itâs a mild recommendation from me.
Come back later for part 2, positions 20-11! It'll be posting in a couple hours, and then part 3 - the top 10 - after that!
