Not been able to watch EVERYTHING I wanted due to time restraints so got QUITE the backlog but give my impressions of what I've seen so far:
On the Backlog
ReZero
Dr Stone
Classroom of the Elite
*Good stuff
Reincarnated as a Slime: New season has Rimaru bitch slap a spoilt bratty young girl so that alone will have many watching! Jokes aside it's nice that this series is consistently good and it's running concurrently so next cour is happening right after so this week Rimaru gets to add 3 new 'sports cars' to his Diablo..
Ascendance of a Bookworm: It's nice having this back as now we see the nobility dynamics with Rosemyne's new position. Still the lovable bookworm but it is funny seeing how she can only be herself around old associates in a secret room.
Personal taste
The Angel next door spoils me rotten S2: As someone who has LONG complained that Anime shows the chase too much over the actual relationship, this is a nice pallette cleanser everytime.
Farming life in another world S2:Just chill vibes again with comedy mixed in. I particularly loved this scene of him casually saying 'I beat her' as she holds their baby 🤣
Welcome to Demon School Iruma-kun: Always nice to return to the sweet roll that even hell appreciates, and this arc focuses on the 'phantom' member of the class
Wistoria:Wand and Sword: this season does feel like 'everyone that mocks the MC is getting bodied then saved by the MC', still entertaining but a pattern I notice.
That's it as I'll need to take time to catch up on my backlog a bit, especially before Saga of Tanya the Evil S2 FINALLY comes out. But feel free to add anything about the ones mentioned, ones I missed as at least we can complain about TOO MUCH to see than too little (stares at Western media)..
I started disengaging from anime around the middle of the season before this one, so there's a lot in my theoretical backlog if I ever decide to go back. I started noticing anime trends going in directions I'm not that big of a fan of. Villainess anime started becoming the 'next thing' and I really don't like that sort of thing. And faggot anime, yaoi, and even yuri anime started becoming a lot more common as well. I've enjoyed a few yuri anime here and there because I'm a guy who likes hot chicks, but they've been really pushing that stuff into a place of primacy over the past few seasons and it's irritating. Anime goes in cycles of what's popular or marketed heavily, and the stuff they're starting to push isn't stuff I like really.
I also agree with OP that Angel Next Door was a nice change of pace from the usual romcom fare. I vastly prefer romcoms where the couple actually is couple over the constant will they won't they shit.
I feel like I'm just growing out of anime in some ways. Anime, and a lot of Japanese cultural stuff, is heavily reliant on static tropes and rigid archetypes. Yes, all media is to some degree, but Japan does it on a whole different level. They're the ones who come up with specific names for types of characters based on their personality and assign them standardized hair colors to denote what sort of character this is. A vast amount of anime is assembly line content built from prefab characters and plots.
This comes from the fact that most of it is based on LNs and manga from authors who are always looking for the next series to become a long term running serial so they have an indefinite paycheck. There isn't as much of a culture of 'Here's the story I want to tell, here's the beginning, middle, and end. I told it and now it's over' over there like there can be here. It's why you end up with manga series that lasts decades or light novels with 23 volumes that haven't actually moved anything forward since volume 4. I would love a return to the days when there were big anime series that were 50 episodes that told one complete story from start to finish and then it's over. Just enough to really tell it fully, but not dragging it out over and over to keep the money flowing in.
And I personally have started to find a lot of it boring and repetitive. Like I've had just about my life's fill of it and I don't think I need anymore. Every so often you get one or two shows a season that are trying something new, but even they still end up mostly just trying to do something new with the same tropes. A lot of anime is just the Mexican food of animated entertainment. Same ingredients combined in different ways, and at some point you've tried them all.
I think I've seen enough combinations of the same things were I can predict just about everything that is going to happen in an anime just from the first episode and seeing what archetypes are in the show. Like I watched Smoking Behind the Supermarket last week just to check it out, and while it was fine, a little better than fine, and I know a few years ago I would have really loved it, I could tell exactly what it was from the first 5 minutes. As soon as the first episode was done, I immediately though 'ah, this will be one where they constantly dance around the relationship and think of ways to delay them confronting their feelings and moving the central relationship forward so the author can get as many issues out of the gimmick for as many years as possible'. Then I looked up where the source material is and yep, that's exactly what it is. I don't like being able to call the entire plotline of an anime from the first episode based off seeing the same things done in slightly different ways so many times.
And I know it's easy to say 'just try things you weren't into before'. Except I didn't try them before because I already didn't like it. I don't go for brutal edgelord anime for instance. It just doesn't appeal to me. And getting tired of stuff I used to enjoy does not magically create enjoyment out of other things I used to not like. I still don't like the stuff I used to not like too. I think I'm just moving past anime as a medium at this point, at least for a long while until there are some real changes or if it's been long enough that I forget why I got tired of it.
Why are you surprised? Lesbians have always been the tip of the wedge/spear with pushing the gay agenda, you're just now suffering the consequences of your own support which beforehand was ok with you because you compromised and gave them an inch. Now you have to swallow the mile.
Fuck off dude. I didn't 'support' shit. I've been the one posting about the encroachment of faggot shit in anime numerous times for over a year. And I pirate everything anyways, so not once cent has been spent on shit that supports faggot stuff. I'd tell you to get off your high horse, but you probably enjoy the dildo you mounted to it too much.
Here's me over two week ago already talking about this exact problem. https://scored.co/c/KotakuInAction2/p/1ASswYLoe8/anime-tourist-create-a-new-termh/c/4ed370ezSrO
You swaggering in here like you're scoring some kind of point no one else has thought of lol
Agree on the serialization complaint.
Really seems like the culture enjoys fixed situations and dynamics that just run forever. Very frustrating when mixed with renewals being rare and always taking several years.
Witch Hat Atelier basically harry potter but in the countryside and the MC's call to adventure is incredibly tragic. The characters actually act their age and the "you can't do that" attitude from the adults actually makes a ton of sense. Excellent animation and music. Only downside is the first season abruptly ends mid-arc with no conclusion.
Daemons of the Shadow Realm Neat action show where people make contracts with spirits called daemons. The story is told through the lense of someone who is abruptly thrown in to an ancient war that he is apparently central to but knows nothing about. Lots of moral nuance and mob war stuff. You can tell the artist also did Full Metal Alchemist because every character looks like a FMA character.
Mao Supernatural mystery action show where the mc can travel between the present and early 1900s japan by walking through an ancient arch that's now part of a mall. The overarching plot unravels very slowly and it often feels like new plot elements are introduced for no reason.
I bounced off Wisteria really hard recently, is it worth powering through? It seemed like just another bog standard Korean style power fantasy where the main character starts the show off as the most powerful person on earth. The "underestimated" genre is growing thin.
Probably not. It sounds like the genre itself just isn't your jam, which is fine. It's just a popcorn show with decent production value behind it, but if the basic premise isn't something you enjoy then I'd say move on to something you'll have more fun with.
I don't blame you, first 3 episodes of the new season was a SLOG to get through, then picks up.
I prefer the 'progression' genre where instead of being underestimated, you start weak but gradually or rapidly get stronger.
That way new characters recognise your strength while the old ones that used to knock you down get a beatdown.
These threads are always interesting to me because they give a glimpse into a market I don't partake in -- but it's nice to get some insight into what's happening in the zeitgeist.
What I've gathered from reading these threads every time they pop up is that the Isekai (is that the right term?) genre still seems to be dominating -- the whole trapped in a virtual world theme.
I remember when the big talk of the town in the anime/gaming sphere was Sword Art Online. I didn't watch it nor play any of the games, but it was talked about a lot in nerd circles and that had to be more than a decade ago at this point.
I guess, what I'm trying to get across is -- is that genre really still that popular? Are there no new themes dominating the market at this time, like dark sci-fi? Or alien mechs? Etc.
I only ask because there is an AI series about a K-pop mech squad that fights deadly aliens, which reminded me of Muv-luv -- I think that was it (or some spin-off if it -- I remember it was on a top-ten list of modern gory anime). Do they still make stuff like that or is it all about the nerdy guy being trapped in a virtual world surrounded by beautiful wenches?
I did a post WAY back about this but get ready for a bit of an essay:
Most Anime comes from Manga and Japanese light novel sources but now include Korean Manhwa and few but may grow later Chinese Manhua sources. From these there are three popular trends, Isekai from Japan, Regression from Korea amd Cultivation from China and it's a reflection of the desires of those societies which is why they are popular.
Isekai because a lot of Japanese feel confined in their worlds and lives and would like to escape it, a reflection of the overworked nature a lot of them are trapped in.
Regression because the desire to go back and undo a mistake or take a different path is probably popular with how integrated social media is in their society.
Cultivation....because the Chinese want to cheat to win. Seriously.
As for the unique stuff like that, it IS out there in Manga and Manwha and some of it IS getting adapted. I believe one where it is essentially a 'space Isekai' where the MC is a space bounty hunter in a unique advanced ship is getting an anime adaptation and that's a good series.
Isekai seems to have 2 types, and yes, it's still QUITE popular. The type you described, and the other, which is just the MC taken to a new world, or reincarnated into it with memories intact, and often with unusual or powerful skills to help them overcome their lack of understanding.
Like Ascendance of a Bookworm he mentioned. It's about a young adult Japanese woman, being put in what appears to be the middle ages in terms of technology, as a 7~ or so year-old girl. Its nobles have magic, but badly need mana, and the MC has an overflowing amount of mana. She also retains her Japanese memories of life, and her obsession of her life in Japan, which was books.
As to your other part, the gory stuff and sci-fi stuff is definitely still out there, but it's not as popular as it once was.
ReZero is god-tier stuff! Every season gets better!
Ascendance of a Bookworm is great too! Great art, characters, plot, worldbuilding. Good clean fun!
Reincarnated As A Slime S4 was better than S3, which was "mid" at best. I'm still stalled on Ep.07 though, might watch the rest eventually.
I just couldn't get started on Iruma-kun :/ even though I like the series.
Koori no Jouheki (Ramparts of Ice) was terrific. Riveting characters who are very real & relatable. Solid story! Se.02 confirmed.
Nigetsuri & Jishou Akuyaku Reijou were similar stories, but both distinct & enjoyable too!
Ponkotsu Fuuki Iin to Skirt-take & Class de 2 Banme were solid & fun highschool rom-coms / SoL.
Summer is PACKED with shows.
I'm happy my favourite sociopath, atheist, anti commie German magical girl could be coming back soon!..
Somehow I couldn't get into Tanya, or Overlord years before. Oh well! There's a bunch of popular shows I didn't watch too over the years.
This Manga might be your cup of tea too! Ignore the "trans" thing, it's like Tanya in that a guy is reincarnated as a girl. It is brutal, violent, graphic and often hard to read because of the horrors going on.
Hmm, I've seen it before but never read it, I'll give it a shot thanks.
You forgot Dorohedoro Season 2
My backlog grows lol
I don't get why people like that slime show. I keep seeing people say it's good, but when I tried getting into it, the Gary Stu MC repelled me. Some of the side characters and world building were interesting, but were all overshadowed by mr. personality of a doormat who's stronger than everyone and near everyone wants to be his friend. What's the draw?
I'd say it's the slow progression of he literally started out as the weakest monster, A Slime, but thanks to the skills he gained when he died but more importantly, being friendly to a very lonely and bored dragon, is able develop a previously forgotten goblin village into the most prosperous city on the map.
It's a bit like how Dr Stone is so interesting as you see the progression it's just Dr Stone shows it more clearly.
I wouldn't really call that slow. I mean, it's been a while since I watched it, but didn't the dragon give him power and boost him to a world-class badass in the very first episode? I'd consider slow something like Mushoku Tensai or TBATE, where the MCs have to train hard for years to gain power, then find out they're still a big fish in a small pond and spend even more time training.
Slow as in the actual village to city progression as it takes recruiting the dwarves to build actual huts to then recruiting the Orcs to build proper infrastructure to now with the help of scientists from the Elves, vampires and his own researchers to make a magical train.
So, it's the kingdom building you like. I suspect you'd probably like Realist Hero, then.
Yep, wish it'd return as there is a LOT more material available.
Just a shame the same can't be said of Log Horizon, I loved the fact that in that one, it wasn't focused on returning home but adapting to the world and new rules.
Agreed on both counts.
Se.01 was good! Lots of fun. Se.02 slipped a bit, but was OK. There were OVAs that were... ok. Se.03 was not good, unless business meetings are your jam 😊
Se.04 was "better" but still a far cry from Se.01. I only got through 6 so far though, the remaining episodes may or may not get watched :/
People are drawn to the worldbuilding (pretty good!) and characters (pretty interesting) and the whole concept of a god-tier slime holds some amusement.
This is a pretty accurate synopsis. I'm basically still watching because of just how unbelievably strong the momentum from season 1 was.
Only watched Witchhat Atelier, Slime and Bookworm. Dr Stone became too ridiculous with what they can built what would even take specialist nowadays years and they do it in a few months in the stoneage offscreen like rocket engines, space rockets and didnt like the new french character they introduced.
ReZero I already skipped most from last season and I am just too tired of the Subaru the weakling who has no combat super powers. Overall there were way too many shitty romance animes. But this new seasons seems promising with Tanya and Rudeus coming back.