Hello!

I’m back with a more “typical” aniblogger post this time. I’ll have more updates about what I’ve been watching, reading, and listening to in the near future. For this post, I wanted to reach out to you with a question:

What anime from 2023 did YOU think were worth watching?

I caught a couple odd series each season (like finishing Netflix’s CG Ultraman and Attack on Titan: The Final Chapters) but my simulcast slate was mostly clean for the year. This was largely due to preparing for my graduate exam in the spring, studying abroad in the summer, and starting a new job in the fall. Hopefully you’ll agree that it would’ve been a bit tricky for anyone to keep up with what’s current given all I went through in 2023!

I DO come prepared, however, with a small list of titles that I saved throughout the year in my back pocket. So, here’s everything I’d like to watch from 2023!

Winter 2023

Nier: Automata Ver1.1a – I love the game, firstly, and the anime is a pleasant way to revisit this world of machines and ruin. I found the first couple episodes quite enjoyable, so I’m mainly coming back to see how the adaptation turned out. I heard there’s more coming, which makes me excited that A-1 Pictures is committed to adapting the “full” story.

Buddy Daddies – No thoughts on this one other than the premise is cute.

Trigun Stampede – I still need to watch the OG Trigun, but I love the character re-designs!

Tsurune – The Linking Shot – I’ll revisit the first season before watching this sequel. From what I remember, I found the pacing of Tsurune sleepy and the characters somewhat unremarkable. Maybe a rewatch will change that.

Gridman Universe – I’m ALWAYS down for Gridman, and it’s crazy that this is the end! ;_;

Spring 2023

Demon Slayer: Swordsmith Village Arc – I’ve continue to stick with this series because I enjoy seeing the work Ufotable puts out. The previous season was tons of fun, and I’m hoping that this third season carries that energy forward.

Oshi No Ko – This was a much-discussed title! If I have time, I’ll scope it out and see what the hype was about. Cute character designs, too.

Heavenly Delusion – Production I.G is another studio I’m fond of, especially when it comes to their sci-fi catalog. The manga for this mystery/survival series intrigued me awhile back, so if I like the anime, I’ll consider picking up the volumes. Really stoked to watch it!

Ranking of Kings – The Treasure Chest of Courage – Yay, more adventures of Bojji and Kage!

Ooku – The Inner Chambers – This one rides in the same train as Heavenly Delusion does for me. I even own the first volume of the manga. (Don’t ask why I haven’t read it.) Hope the anime turned out well!

Sailor Moon: Cosmos – At last, we’ll see how the new Sailor Moon adaptation ends! I’m a little concerned that Netflix hasn’t licensed it for streaming yet, though. My expectations for the production are somewhat low, so I’m just hoping these final films are able to stir an emotional reaction from a longtime SM fan.

Summer 2023

Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 – I started the first season on a whim like a year ago, and I got surprisingly addicted to its rhythm of action and comedy. Of course, this has been the only series people have talked about since 😛 so I’ll get around to the sequel eventually.

Fate/strange Fake – Whispers of Dawn – Is this just the first episode? If so, I’ll wait until the full series is released before starting. Looks great, though!

Maboroshi – The latest film from director Mari Okada JUST came out on Netflix the other day! Always happy to see what she’s working on.

Fall 2023

Frieren – Beyond Journey’s End – This was on a lot of friends’ “best of year” lists, and the online response seems to range from “like it” to “LOVE IT.” Can’t wait to put names to all these faces!

SPY X FAMILY Season 2 – This reminds me, I still need to finish the last few episodes of season one! Oh dear, where does the time go!

The Apothecary Diaries – If you followed Frieren and friends this past fall, then you also probably watched this little series. I recall being initially grabbed by the anime’s gorgeous teaser visuals and videos. Now that it’s out, I’m hoping that the characters are as charming as the animation I saw.

PLUTO – Another short series dropped on Netflix, I’m a complete stranger to the works of Naoki Urasawa. I anticipate this will serve as my gateway drug.

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Considering the sheer volume of anime that is produced each season, this is a fairly small, manageable list. I handpick everything so carefully because I’m still working through my physical to-be-watched stack. (We’re making steady progress!) Still, hidden gems slip through the cracks, so be sure to let me know what you liked from all the anime released in 2023. Thanks for reading, and ’til next time!

– Takuto