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1. Spy x Family season 2
The sequel to my favorite anime from 2022 adapted one of the most exciting parts of the manga, which perfectly mixes the action of a grand battle with heartwarming family moments.
The action-packed cruise arc is in fact half of the season's content - which is great, because it's a strong story with excellent character development for Yor, exploring her reasons for becoming an assassin and if she wants to continue in that line of work. It has plenty of moments for Anya and Loid to shine as well, even as they act independently in a way that indirectly assists the others, much like the story arc that kicked off season 1 part 2. The scenes with the three of them spending time together as a family after all the chaos were just precious, and closing with a few comedy episodes provided a nice break from the intense action.
This second season is a faithful adaptation of the manga, though I wonder if it would have been better for the pacing to rearrange a few chapters so that the cruise arc was closer to the beginning rather than the middle, in between the fairly standalone comedy episodes. Even so, I enjoy Spy x Family's humorous scenes as much as its serious narrative, and it always maintains a good balance, which made the continuation a fun watch from start to finish. I love these characters, and I'm looking forward to seeing more of their story.
Rating: 10/10
2. Buddy Daddies
A perfect combination of hitman action, laugh out loud comedy, and wholesome family slice-of-life. Miri, Kazuki and Rei are such lovable characters, and watching the scenarios this found family ended up in each week became a highlight of the year.
Although it may not necessarily fall within the slice-of-life genre, every episode featured adorable and hilarious scenes from Kazuki and Rei's daily lives as they struggled with the challenges of raising a rambunctious four-year-old child and came to love their new found family. No matter how ordinary the activity, from getting ready for preschool to a simple shopping trip, the three of them were always so fun to watch. This show had me consistently laughing with every episode from Miri's high-spirited hijinks or her daddies' reactions as they do their very best to raise a child through trial and error, and it became one of my absolute favorite comedies among all anime - second only to Spy x Family.
While the series ended up focusing more on its humorous moments, the action scenes were always exciting. Rei and Kazuki's early missions featured all the fun of an over-the-top Hollywood movie, and the more serious fights had me on the edge of my seat in suspense. Their comedic first attempts to raise a child may have stolen the show, but I also really enjoyed watching the two of them in action as hitmen. The finale was a perfect combination of exciting action and heartwarming family comedy that showed off all of its strengths, and gave the story a wonderful conclusion that was everything I hoped for Kazuki, Rei and Miri.
Rating: 10/10
3. Oshi no Ko
This series that was a complete unknown to me instantly captured my interest with its great cast of characters and perfect mix of drama, mystery and the occasional comedic moments. Within the first few minutes of the fantastic 90-minute premiere, I was already invested in the characters of Oshi no Ko and their struggles, and that feeling continued throughout the first season - whether it was Ai's life of love and lies, Aqua's revenge, Ruby overcoming her past fears to become an idol who inspires everyone, Kana and Akane's rivalry and insecurities, the exploration of acting in the Sweet Today TV drama or the shocking turns of the Love Now arc.
In addition to the excellent character drama, one of the things that kept me hooked on Oshi no Ko and eagerly awaiting each new episode was its central mystery - Aqua's quest to find his father, who was likely responsible for Ai's murder. His detective work and the lengths he's willing to go to achieve his goal make him a fascinating main character and gives this story a great balance of light and dark.
The finale provides an exciting teaser for what's to come in the already approved season 2, with Aqua's investigation turning up new clues and an acting projects that looks set to bring the rivalry between Kana and Akane front and center.
Rating: 9.5/10
4. Synduality Noir
This post apocalyptic sci-fi world immediately drew me in. I really like the design, the quirky characters, and the scrapped together mechs called "Coffins" that remind me of Battle Bots. The action scenes are pretty exciting, there's some unexpected humor, and I was always interested to learn more about the hints of mystery involving Noir and the other Type Zero Magus who are being hunted, in addition to the remnants of a civilization resembling our own.
The second half had some nice character development and comedy before diving into the action-packed final episodes. It was exciting to see a big battle where everyone pitched in, and it feels like the story is still just getting started with so many mysteries in play - Noir's alter ego, the group pursuing her as "the key" they've been looking for, and how Ciel and Black Mask are involved. The continuation is currently airing during the Winter 2024 season and seems set to answer lingering questions from the finale.
Rating: 9/10
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5. Insomniacs After School
This series was such a pleasant surprise. The wholesome, healing relationship that developed between Ganta and Isaki was an absolute joy to watch. The way the two of them slowly opened up to each other and simply find comfort in each other's presence made this friendship turned romance feel very natural, and I was rooting for them all the way.
Insomniacs dealt with some heavy topics - like health conditions, trauma and abandonment - and handled them all with care. Ganta and Isaki's feelings were realistic and relatable, and watching the gentle progression of their relationship was one of my favorite parts of the spring anime season.
Rating: 9/10
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6. Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear season 2
Yuna's fun isekai adventure with her adorable bears continues in the second season. A golem-slaying journey through the caves, gathering materials for dwarven crafters, and the promise of mithril blades felt like watching a traditional fantasy game storyline, and Yuna shocking everyone with her overpowered bear gear never gets old.
Although this sequel leans more into slice-of-life than the first season, Yuna's daily adventures were still very fun to watch whether she was traveling with a group, slaying monsters solo, baking delicious cakes or creating an exercise routine with her bears. It's peak relaxing fantasy, and the charming dialogue full of videogame references and bear puns remains a highlight of the show.
Rating: 9/10
7. Dr. Stone season 3
More than ever before, the Kingdom of Science shifted their focus to exploring the Stone World, building a ship and setting sail across the ocean to discover new lands and uncover clues about what brought the world to its current state. One of the most exciting aspects of Dr. Stone is seeing what Senku will create next using his scientific knowledge and the limited resources available to him in the Stone World. With all of the new scientific developments geared towards travel and espionage, this season represents one of the biggest leaps forward for Senku and his friends.
Dr. Stone has always contained an element of mystery in the green flash of light that turned all humans on Earth into stone for thousands of years, but while previous seasons focused more on surviving in the new state of the world they found themselves in, season 3 has the Kingdom of Science actively searching for answers surrounding the petrification and the history of the astronaut team that included Senku's dad.
Rating: 8.5/10
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8. The Saint's Magic Power Is Omnipotent season 2
Although this season had a bit of a slow start with the presence of some common isekai tropes I've grown bored with (like marketing cosmetics and searching for rice), the story picked up when its focus shifted back to adventure and politics. The new information about the foreign kingdoms of the fantasy world was interesting, and the formal events that Sei was reluctant to attend was a good callback to the season 1 plotline about the misunderstanding Aila had to overcome as Sei now finds herself in the same boat.
My favorite parts, a usual, were the expedition and the quiet moments Sei was able to share with Hawke. The action was even more tense than the first season, showing Sei and Hawke's concern for each other when they're briefly separated, which made the adorable romantic scenes between them all the more meaningful. This season ended on a great note, one that could have potentially been a series finale, but the novels are still ongoing, so there's more to this story.
Rating: 8.5/10
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9. Endo and Kobayashi Live! The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte
Within the first few minutes, I was hooked on this story. The novel premise of the leads being able to communicate with the characters inside the game was a captivating one for a gamer like me, and Kobayashi's excitement at the possibility of saving her favorite from a terrible fate (and getting to watch her beloved ship come true) was instantly relatable. It's an interesting spin on the "trapped in a videogame" concept by giving its two leads the ability to speak to the characters in the game, rather than enter the world themselves. The characters of MajiKoi first perceive their advice as the voices of the gods, to great comedic effect. I was so invested in this story and the characters that I watched the whole season within a few days.
Both the real world and fantasy world plots were equally captivating, and this show had not just one, but three very sweet romances! Even during its short 12 episode run, each romance progressed equally, telling a complete story with a touching theme about getting to know people for who they truly are inside. An endgame plot which felt rushed and unnecessary brought down the overall score, but it was otherwise a fantastic romcom with a fun, large cast who all grew to be more than their fantasy tropes.
Rating: 8.5/10
10. Shangri-La Frontier
This is a show about characters having fun playing a videogame, and as a gamer myself, that makes for a fun watch. I really like the creative environments and monster designs, and the long-running unique quest involving a secret world of rabbits has been very entertaining. Main character Sunraku has great banter with his bunny companion, Emul, who adds a lot of excitement and chaos to his playthrough.
When Sunraku teams up with his friends from previous games, Katzo the fighting game pro and Pencilgon the eccentric PKer, it brings a new dynamic to the story that makes it even better as they prepare for another big event quest. The anime is an excellent adaptation of the manga, bringing the game world to life in vibrant color and offering a near perfect portrayal of the story up to this point. The currently airing continuation is already one of my early favorites of 2024.
Rating: 8.5/10
11. Apothecary Diaries
The palace intrigue in combination with a cast of likeable, quirky characters make this series unique and easily engaging. There's a nice mix of episodic mysteries and others that build on previous plotlines to tie a continuous story together. The history behind it all is very interesting, and the palace as well as the clothing designs are beautifully detailed.
It was a pleasant surprise to find this series set in ancient China addressing what are also modern day health concerns like food allergies and toxic products with the seriousness it deserves, and the hidden connections between the members of the inner court and Maomao's family that are slowly being revealed over time has me invested in seeing where this story goes.
Rating: 8.5/10
12. Tomo-chan Is A Girl!
The cast of quirky characters, along with Tomo's increasing attempts to get Jun to notice her feminine side as he tries to hide his growing feelings for her, made this a very fun romcom. This single season tells a complete story of two best friends falling in love, and their friends' hilarious efforts to make them admit it.
Much of the humor in this series comes from putting together a quirky cast and letting their personalities bounce off each other, and it works like a charm. From Tomo's "punch first and ask questions later" attitude to Jun's constant attempts to keep himself from thinking about his best friend in a romantic way, combined with Misuzu and Carol's antics which aim to accomplish just that, each of the main characters contribute equally to the show's signature rapid-fire comedy.
Rating: 8.5/10
13. Tsurune - The Linking Shot
Tsurune excels at character development for its large cast and portraying tense, exciting kyudo matches that had me rooting for each team more than any real life sporting event. I felt invested in their goals and challenges, and the kyudo matches were always easy to follow even for someone with no prior knowledge of the sport.
The friendships and rivalries between the Kazemai, Kirisaki and Tsujimine kyudo clubs are the highlight of this series, and Tsurune's second season did a great job of developing its characters. Everyone had their struggles to overcome, and watching their journey was a perfect end to the winter anime season.
Rating: 8.5/10
14. Tearmoon Empire
Princess Mia stumbling into doing the right thing for mostly selfish reasons while unwittingly leading everyone to believe she's a genius was hilarious, which makes the shift even more meaningful when she does act completely out of care and concern for Prince Abel later on, even though it puts herself in danger. The concept of learning clues from her ever changing diary to change the future and avoid a bad ending at the gallows gives a layer of intrigue to the story, and the episodes centered around Mia making friends at school were just as enjoyable.
The plot taking a serious turn towards the end and hinting at a larger mystery behind the revolution was a surprise, but the story did a good job of providing just enough answers for it to feel like a satisfying conclusion to the season.
Rating: 8.5/10
15. Kaina of the Great Snow Sea
The beautiful and unique world with a mysterious history, creative wildlife designs like the snow horses, and a story of different factions struggling to survive with their resources dwindling made this post-apocalyptic sci-fi an early favorite of mine during the winter season. This series excelled during its exploration scenes where Kaina, Ririha and Yaona were discovering parts of the world they didn't even know existed.
As they tried to find a solution that would prevent war, the beautiful new locations they visited, the fantastic creatures they encountered, and the mysteries they uncovered along the way added to the worldbuilding which was the show's greatest strength. The second half had some issues with characters making poor decisions, and a deus ex machina plot twist that would have benefited from more explanation, but the adventure kept me interested from start to finish.
(The movie which completes the series is not available for me to watch, so this review and rating is based solely on the TV series.)
Rating: 8/10
16. Sugar Apple Fairy Tale
There are so many things about Sugar Apple Fairy Tale that make its world feel magical - the creative lore of fairies in this story, the in-depth exploration of their history with humans, and of course the beautifully detailed sugar confections and what they mean for the people of this fantasy world. Combine that fantastic premise with very likeable main characters, and this show was set to become one of my absolute favorites in the fantasy genre. Anne and Challe have a great dynamic which evolved naturally during the series' early episodes. Their banter was always fun to watch, and despite the drama they faced, the emotional moments they shared were truly heartwarming.
However, I wasn't a fan of the drastic shift in tone during the final arc. These four episodes had more violence than the rest of the series as a whole, and moved away from what I enjoyed about the show, like the sugar crafting, to focus on a plot about the Fairy King and a new fairy villain turning his own kind into slaves. If not for that, this show would have easily made my Top 10.
Rating: 8/10
17. Saving 80,000 Gold In Another World For My Retirement
This show was carried by its protagonist, Mitsuha, and her unique yet practical approach to the ability to teleport between present day Japan and a medieval fantasy world. Mitsuha's tendency to put herself first was a refreshing change from the norm, and her personality combined with her sometimes wacky schemes made her very fun to watch.
While the story didn't always focus on a grand adventure, the parts that did were easily some of the most exciting of the season, whether she was performing impressive feats in the medieval fantasy world or hanging out with a group of mercenaries in South America. This series used its unique twist on isekai to good effect, and it was fun watching Mitsuha get creative with her teleportation ability in both practical and outlandish ways.
Although it had a rough start in the first episode with the bizarre acquisition of her teleportation powers, and the middle was a bit slow at times due to its focus on the isekai version of workplace slice-of-life, this show really surprised me with its final episodes. They were some of the most fun and action-packed in the series so far, and presented Mitsuha with the interesting moral question of how far she was willing to go for these people from another world she came to care about, and how much she was willing to reveal to them.
Rating: 8/10
18. The Yuzuki Family's Four Sons
A very cute show, and it was easy to connect with these characters. The four brothers all have likeable, distinct personalities. Hayato's determination to care for all of them and keep their family together is heartwarming, and they all try to support each other in their own ways. The flashbacks to easier or more difficult times show just how far they've come in the last few years.
The second half added some depth by exploring key events for each one of them, including their friends/neighbors the Kirishima family. Hayato ended up being my favorite character, because the way he cares for his brothers like a (grand)parent is so sweet. It did at times feel like a few of the brothers' personality defining quirks made them seem more like "cute characters" rather than realistic portrayals of kids/teens, but it was still a really fun slice-of-life.
Rating: 8/10
19. Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury part 2
This second half was an exciting conclusion to my first Gundam show. GWitch tells a compelling story with themes of family and war at the forefront, and has a great cast of characters. The battles in part 2 are as just exciting as the first, and with even higher stakes. When tensions between Earthians and Spacians lead to the brink of war and everyone's hidden plans are revealed, the resulting Gundam fights deliver a stunning clash of ideals, loyalties and sci-fi weaponry where every move feels like it could mean the difference between life and death.
The final battle was beautifully animated, there were many emotional scenes throughout the season, and Guel's excellent character development as he learned to truly understand the cost of war became a highlight of the series for me. While the corporate politics seemed to move a bit too quick to follow at times, and I was never a fan of Suletta's relationship with Miorine (which was more of a focus towards the end), the show kept me invested from its explosive start to its emotional finale.
Rating: 8/10
Rating: 8/10
21. My Clueless First Friend
The concept of Takada, the clueless friend, constantly saying sweet things that make Nishimura happy and confuse her bullies is nice, though I feel he goes a little overboard at times with his admiration of the "Grim Reaper" nickname that the other kids use to make fun of her. My favorite parts of the story were the ones that didn't rely on this recurring joke and instead focused on Nishimura's growing friendship with Takada, plus new friends Hino and Adachi. It was great to see the super shy Nishimura start to open up more, and the scenes with her dad quietly supporting her from the background were heartwarming.
The manga's art style looks better adapted into anime than I would have guessed - the simple designs have their own kind of charm, and the pastel color pallet complements them well. The voice actors for the two main characters also did a great job, showing Nishimura's change in tone as she becomes more comfortable in her group of friends and capturing Takada's pure innocent energy.
Rating: 8/10
22. Kubo Won't Let Me Be Invisible
This relaxing romcom makes excellent use of its short scenario format. The interactions between the lead characters are very sweet, and Kubo's teasing is always good natured and meant to help people notice Shiraishi when they have a tendency to overlook him. The daily scenarios that play out between Kubo and Shiraishi are always short and sweet, with each episode featuring two separate stories. A fun watch, with the only downside being an art style which is sometimes overly plain and simplistic in its designs.
This is a wholesome romance with a light dose of comedy about two nice kids, and that's all it needed to be. Even though it typically sticks to the status quo, the two leads managed to get a little closer to realizing their feelings by the final episode.
Rating: 8/10
23. The Girl I Like Forgot Her Glasses
I'm a fan of the manga, and it's pretty much my go-to series for wholesome romcom/slice-of-life. The story is exactly as the title describes - cute scenarios that involve main character Komura helping out Mie, the girl he likes, every time she forgets her glasses. The anime is mostly good and captures Komura's and Mie's designs well, but has a slightly different vibe. With the addition of voice acting, Komura's surprise at Mie's quirky behavior often comes off as overacting (internal screams and all), and the direction emphasizes this with the occasional instant replays.
The weird camera angles I read about were, thankfully, only present in the first episode because those were indeed hard to watch. However, the heart of this story is still the same adorable romcom I enjoyed in the manga, and the emotional scenes like the class field trip (a favorite of mine) hit all the right notes. Komura and Mie's interactions as their bond keeps growing stronger are adorable, and there's a slow and steady progression to their relationship.
Rating: 8/10
24. The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen: From Villainess To Savior
In comparison to other isekai villainess anime where the main character rarely seems like a villain at all, Pride is well aware of the cruel actions that would later be committed by the character she was reborn into, and her fear of turning into that person gives this story a darker tone in its early episodes. However, it soon becomes clear that Pride is determined to do as much good and help as many people as she can, so there's a nice balance between the serious plot and lighthearted moments. Her achievements made through research and negotiation feel earned, and there are times when she makes mistakes, adding to the realism.
Even as the season ended, this story felt like it was still in the beginning stages. That's not entirely a criticism, as the in-depth introductions for each of the main characters were all enjoyable. A great deal of time was spent on their development and their interactions with each other, which was often the highlight of the series. The larger mystery only came into play at the very end, but I like the characters and I'm interested in seeing where things go from here.
Rating: 8/10
25. Horimiya: The Missing Pieces
This second season, which runs alongside the same timeline as the first, is definitely leans more towards slice-of-life moments rather than a direct romcom like the original. The switching focus between different characters is both a strength and a weakness for the show. I can see why some of these scenes were cut from the main story because they don't all feel necessary. There were some great additions, like the Valentine's Day episode, but also others that didn't hold my interest.
The humor can be hit or miss and has some jokes I could do without, like the perverted teacher, but the episodes centered around Yanagi had me laughing through their entire runtime, and his growing friendship with Sakura was really sweet. The extra screen time for side characters was nice, but Hori and Miyamura's story is still the best part for me.
Rating: 8/10
26. Attack on Titan: The Final Season - Part 3
The fact that the last entry in one of my favorite series is ranked below my Top 25 is a testament to how strong this year of anime was, but also a reflection of my disappointment in the direction the story took towards the end. AOT's two special episodes, which add up to a two-and-a-half hour runtime, had the high quality animation of a movie along with the tense battles I've come to expect from the series. The first half felt like a war drama, and was an excellent portrayal of humanity's varied responses to an unfolding tragedy, crafting a compelling story of a world at war. It started off very exciting, until certain plot elements introduced late in the series became the focus.
I have mixed feelings about the second half as a result. The battle scenes were fantastic, and there were also some emotional moments that were really well done. Unfortunately, and I had this issue before the finale as well, I'm not a fan of any parts involving the Founder Ymir or the origin of the titans. That was even more pronounced here because it had such an impact on the direction the story took. And I didn't care for the ominous "epilogue" during the credits either. I understand that a world completely at peace would have felt unrealistic and not fitting with the themes of the story, but did it really have to be an all or nothing end to every conflict or complete destruction with no in between? It just seemed like a sour note to end the series on, that the darkness they thought they destroyed is the only thing that remains and the cycle will likely begin again.
Overall, I really enjoyed the first half that was more action-packed, while the second half felt very disappointing story-wise, but as a manga reader, I already knew what to expect.
Rating: 7.5/10
27. The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten
At its best, this was a sweet romance story with found family vibes and a great supporting cast, including one couple I found more entertaining than the main characters. Amane and Mahiru's relationship progressed from classmates/neighbors who were simply helping each other out to close friends, while everyone around them saw the two acting like newlyweds practically living together.
It was an amusing set up with a few standout scenes that really showed their growing bond, like the Christmas and New Year's episodes and their adorable mall date, but others scenes fell flat due to stilted conversations, the occasional strange instances of wish fulfilment, and Amane's apparent need to remind Mahiru not to let herself be too vulnerable around him. Throughout the season, this series varied wildly in writing quality, with some parts being particularly strong while others were held back by awkward dialogue and unrealistic scenarios. In the end, it was the secondary couple, Itsuki and Chitose, that I enjoyed watching most.
Rating: 7.5/10
28. Reborn to Master the Blade
With a fun group of main characters, a unique magic system, and some interesting worldbuilding with a hint of mystery, this show has a lot going for it. Inglis is often compared with Goku (from DBZ) for good reason, and I enjoyed watching her battle-happy adventures each week. The friendships between the characters, especially Inglis and her cousin Rani, were quite well developed.
It was a nice twist to follow a protagonist reborn into their own world, rather than another one, and seeing how much things have changed in the future they returned to. Unfortunately, the show had a few terrible villains in its short 12 episode run that seemed evil just for the sake of being evil, and also started to rely too much on a fanservice joke that wasn't funny the first time.
Rating: 7.5/10
29. Technoroid Overmind
For a show that was supposed to be primarily about singing androids, there was a surprisingly deep sci-fi plot that touched on the evolution of artificial intelligence, a futuristic world affected by climate change, and even a murder mystery.
Sometimes it felt like there were too many conflicting elements from different genres mixed into this story, but there were plenty of interesting ideas here. The sci-fi setting and thoughtful exploration of AI was the best part of the show for me, followed by the murder mystery and a series of slice-of-life episodes which featured surprisingly emotional character development at times. The idol segments, on the other hand, were by far the weakest and felt almost like an afterthought.
Rating: 7.5/10
30. Tokyo Mew Mew New season 2
This season really raised the stakes, both in terms of the battles the girls would face and the emotional challenges they needed to overcome. The large scale fight scenes as the slightly more experienced but still new magical girl team tried to prevent the aliens from triggering environmental damage of apocalyptic proportions was exciting, and the bond between the girls continues to be one of the show's best strengths.
The background about the aliens was fascinating, but at the same time made them seem like hypocritical villains for abandoning their original homeworld long ago and then wanting it back. There were parts I really enjoyed, like the cute little friendship between Purin and Tart as she kept trying to convince him to join the good guys. However, I was not a fan of the major plot twist involving Aoyama, and even though it turned out well in the end with a happy ending that wrapped up this series nicely, it still brought down my overall score.
Rating: 7.5/10
31. By the Grace of the Gods season 2
Although the first season had a nice balance of adventure and slice-of-life, this continuation focused too much on the daily chores of Ryouma running his laundry business, which didn't hold my interest. The fact that the show increased its already large cast of characters by adding more employees but offering little development for these newcomers often gave the impression that they were essentially the same person with different designs, which made it difficult to feel invested in their stories.
The episodes showing Eliara and friends at their new school were a nice change of pace, and Ryouma did have an interesting adventure to an invention fair that hinted he was not the first person isekai'd to this world, though these highlights were far too few. A definite step down from season 1, but it's still a decent lighthearted isekai even if a bit slow at times when certain plotlines dragged on too long.
Rating: 7.5/10
32. My Love Story With Yamada-kun At Lvl999
Stories about gamers usually appeal to me, but I didn't enjoy this one as much as I expected. The two leads, Akane and Yamada, don't have a lot of chemistry in the beginning, and although I could kind of see why Akane was interested in Yamada for showing her some kindness when she was at a low point in her life, there didn't seem to be much reason for Yamada to fall for Akane - especially after she ended up at his place drunk twice.
Some of the side characters are fun in a quirky sort of way (Eita and Mr. Kamota), but I found others annoying more often than not (Momo and Runa). There are some funny moments, and the chemistry between the leads does improve a bit in the second half, but the school festival episodes were the height of this story for me. I was never excited by the idea of Akane and Yamada becoming a couple, so it didn't really succeed for me as a romcom, though at times it was a decent gamer slice-of-life.
Rating: 7.5/10
33. Spy Classroom
An interesting concept and a large cast with well developed personalities show that this series had good potential. The early episodes when the girls were still training to be better spies and trying (mostly in vain) to outsmart their teacher kept my interest, and although the non-chronological approach to storytelling didn't always work in its favor, it was occasionally used to great effect when a hidden plot point was revealed at the last minute.
The second half felt like a step down, and the individual plotlines for each character in this half weren't as engaging as the ones that came before. Much of the story this time around was focused on Thea, and while some of these developments were interesting, it fell back on plot convenience too often, and a near-magical special ability that seemed out of place in an otherwise grounded world. There was some decent intrigue and espionage, but I started to lose interest fast when the brainwashing plot was introduced. I would still watch a third season if this series continues, but I'm not really eager for one.
Rating: 7/10
34. The Dreaming Boy is a Realist
This romcom was a bit of a mixed bag, with episodes that varied in quality throughout the season. At its best, Dreaming Boy was an entertaining and occasionally funny slice-of-life about Wataru and his friends, but there were also too many scenes where the dialogue came off as awkward and unrealistic, like the characters were reading an analysis of the situation instead of having a conversation. It didn't help matters that the "main girl", Aika, probably had less character development and chemistry with Wataru compared to many side characters like Kei and Sasaki.
The story often felt like it didn't know where it was supposed to go, playing out like short amusing snippets of Wataru's life with little direction. Although it wasn't very satisfying as a romcom, it did make for a decent slice-of-life.
Rating: 7/10
35. Bang Dream! It's MyGO!!!!!
After reading about all the hype, this story turned out to be a big disappointment. There were some things I enjoyed about it, but they were the technical aspects - the OP and ED alone are worth a watch, and some of the scenery (the aquarium, a rooftop garden, Anon's home) had beautiful designs. The 3D animation for the characters was also very well done, and the scenes that did use traditional 2D had a smooth transition.
Unfortunately, the story and characters are where this series fell short for me. I never felt invested in this cast, and the drama was so overdone, with everyone treating what should be minor issues as if they're life shattering ordeals. For a series that's supposed to be focused around music, I wasn't impressed with that aspect either, and the poetry readings accompanied by soft background music just didn't resonate with me.
Rating: 6/10
I hope you enjoyed reading my reviews of last year's anime, and maybe found something new to watch among my favorites! Check out my anime/manga comparisons for Spy x Family, Oshi no Ko, Insomniacs After School and Tomo-chan Is A Girl, my anime/novel comparisons for Endo and Kobayshi Live, Saving 80,000 Gold and Sugar Apple Fairy Tale, my Otaku Elf history series, and stay tuned for more.
*All screenshots taken by me from each series on their respective legal streaming sites or official Youtube videos. Banners made by me in Canva.
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