My Favorite Anime of Winter 2023

    Welcome back to Beyond The Anime! The winter season was packed with great anime, with my list of shows to follow weekly being longer than ever before. It wasn't always easy to rank them with so many strong entries, but this list represents my favorites of Winter 2023 by genre and overall. Mild spoilers ahead! 

Best Premiere Episode: Sugar Apple Fairy Tale

A great introduction to the world, Sugar Apple Fairy Tale's first episode presents its fantasy concepts like a unique take on fairies and sugar crafting, while also showing that this setting has a darker side. Anne and Challe are both great characters whose personalities steal the show, making this one of my early favorites of the season.

Runner Up: 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.

Best Opening Song: Sugar Apple Fairy Tale ( "Musical" by Minori Suzuki)

This beautiful melody was the one playing on repeat in my mind more often than any other, and the lyrics are a good representation of the series' themes. Anne and Challe's graceful dance in the video just puts it over the top.

Runner Up: Buddy Daddies ("SHOCK!" by Ayase)

It was a hard choice between this very catchy tune and Sugar Apple's for my favorite OP. The lyrics are a perfect match for Buddy Daddy's found family themes, and the upbeat rhythm is a great fit for Kazuki, Rei and Miri's chaotic but caring family.

Best Action: Attack on Titan season 4 part 3-1

No surprise, since AOT has been one of my favorite shows for at least five years now. The combat scenes were fantastic as always, and the animation in this hour-long special was movie quality. It also features one of the most heroic moments in the series to date. 

Runner Up: Buddy Daddies

While the series ended up focusing more on its comedy, 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 hilarious 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.

Best Adventure: Kaina of the Great Snow Sea 

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.

Runner Up: Saving 80,000 Gold In Another World For My Retirement

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 Mitsuha 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. 

Best Comedy: Buddy Daddies

As the show that had me consistently laughing out loud with every episode, it's not just my favorite comedy of the season - it became one of my absolute favorite comedies among all anime, second only to Spy x Family. Miri's high-spirited hijinks and her daddies' hilarious reactions as they do their very best to raise a child through trial and error were a real highlight each week. 

Runner Up: Tomo-chan Is A Girl 

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 hilarious 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.

Romance: Sugar Apple Fairy Tale

Without a doubt, one of the shows I looked forward to most this season, and the reason is the two main characters. 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.

Runner Up: Endo and Kobayashi Live! The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte

This show had not just one, but three very sweet romances! Even during its short 12-episode run, they managed to progress each romance equally, telling a complete story with a touching theme about getting to know people for who they truly are inside. 

Best Drama: Tsurune - The Linking Shot

Just as strong as the first season, 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. Everyone had their struggles to overcome, and watching their journey was the perfect way to end the winter anime season.

Runner Up: Attack on Titan season 4 part 3-1

Technically more of a war drama, this hour-long special episode was an excellent portrayal of the varied emotional responses to an unfolding tragedy, even more so than the fall of Shiganshina in the first episode. The state of panic feels very real, but even so, there are some who choose to fight back against their fate, and others who wait for the end. During these tense scenes as well as the quiet, contemplative moments where the characters consider what's most important to them and plan their next move, AOT once again crafts a compelling story of a world at war.

Best Slice-of-Life: Buddy Daddies

Although this show 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.

Runner Up: Kubo Won't Let Me Be Invisible

The daily interactions between Kubo and Shiraishi are always short and sweet, with each episode featuring two separate stories. This was a relaxing show with fun scenarios about two nice kids, and that's all it needed to be. 

Best Fantasy: 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 became one of my absolute favorites in the fantasy genre.

Runner Up: Endo and Kobayashi Live! The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte

This show is 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.

Best Science Fiction: Kaina of the Great Snow Sea

The beautiful and unique world with a mysterious history, creative wildlife designs, and a story of different factions struggling to survive with their resources dwindling, made this post-apocalyptic sci-fi an early favorite of mine this season. I thought the story was strongest when it focused on Kaina and Ririha uncovering the secrets of their world, and though some of the later plot twists could have benefited from more explanation, the adventure kept me interested from start to finish. 

Runner Up: 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, but there were plenty of interesting ideas here.

Best Ending Song: Tomo-chan Is A Girl ("yurukuru*love" by the cast of Tomo-chan)

One of the EDs from this season that I never skipped over was Tomo-chan's. The song is catchy, the artwork which plays out like a short skit between the main characters is adorable, and they even switched it up once with a version sang by the boys. 

Runner Up: Tsurune - The Linking Shot ("Hitominaka" by Tei)

I've always enjoyed the scenes where the ED starts playing during the end of an episode for extra emotional impact, and Tsurune's second season pulled it off in every single episode. Instead of a traditional ED video as the credits roll, the song adds a peaceful background that beautifully overlaps with the final minutes of the show. 

Best Finale Episode: Buddy Daddies

Now this is how to end a series. It 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. 

Runner Up: Saving 80,000 Gold In Another World For My Retirement

After a rough start, this show really surprised me with its final episodes. They were some of the most fun and action-packed in the entire 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.

Top 10 Anime of Winter 2023 Ranking: 

1. Buddy Daddies

The 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 hilarious scenarios this found family ended up in each week became a highlight of the season. This show told a complete story with deep character development in only 12 episodes, and I couldn't have asked for a better ending. 

Rating: 10/10

2. Sugar Apple Fairy Tale

The fantasy series I've always wanted. I loved the dynamic between Anne and Challe, the beautiful storybook art style, and the creative fantasy world which features a deep history and mythology of its own. Despite the cliffhanger ending, it's easily one of the anime I've enjoyed most in recent years and I was eagerly awaiting each new episode.

Rating: 9.5/10

3. Attack on Titan season 4 part 3-1 (special)

 The fact that a new entry in one of my favorite series is only ranked at third place is a testament to how strong this season was, because AOT's hour-long special episode had the high quality animation of a movie along with the tense battles and thoughtful character development I've come to expect from this story. It was an emotional, exciting ride from start to finish and ended on a high note, setting the stage for the finale this fall.

Rating: 9/10

4. 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 show to watch each week. This single season tells a complete story of two best friends falling in love, and their friends' hilarious efforts to make them admit it.

Rating: 8.5/10

5. Tsurune - The Linking Shot

The friendships and rivalries between the members of the Kazemai, Kirisaki and Tsujimine kyudo clubs are the highlight of this series. Tsurune's second season did a great job of developing its large cast. I felt invested in their goals and their challenges, and the kyudo matches were always exciting and easy to follow even for someone with no prior knowledge of the sport.

Rating: 8.5/10

6. Endo and Kobayashi Live! The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte

The premise of two gamers gaining the ability to communicate with the characters on screen had me instantly invested in this story. Both the real world and fantasy world plots were equally captivating, and all three romances received time to develop. 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: 8/10

7. Kaina of the Great Snow Sea 

A creative world with a beautiful, surreal design and hints of a deeper background story, adorable sci-fi creatures like the snow horses, and two leads with great chemistry were the highlights of this new original series. The second half had some issues with characters making bad decisions, and a poorly explained deus ex machina moment, but concluded on a strong note that sets the stage for the upcoming movie continuation. 

Rating: 8/10

8. 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. The middle was a bit slow, but the last episodes were exciting and unexpected, and left me wanting more.

Rating: 8/10

9. 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. A fun watch, with the only downside being an art style which is sometimes overly plain and simplistic in its designs.

Rating: 8/10

10. The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten 

Throughout the season, this series varied wildly in writing quality, with some episodes being particularly strong while others were held back by awkward dialogue and unrealistic scenarios. 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), which just barely earned it a spot in my Top 10.

Rating: 7.5/10

11. 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. Unfortunately, the show also had a few terrible villains in its short 12-episode run, and started to rely too much on a fanservice joke that wasn't funny the first time. 

Rating: 7.5/10

12. Technoroid Overmind

There were so many plotlines and elements from different genres mixed into this story, it was hard to tell at times what exactly it wanted to be. The sci-fi setting and thoughtful exploration of artificial intelligence 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 deep 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 

13. 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 running a business, which didn't hold my interest. The fact that the show increased its already large cast of characters but offered little development for these newcomers often gave the impression that they were essentially the same person with different designs, making it difficult to feel invested in their stories. A definite step down from season 1, but it's still a decent slice-of-life in another world even if a bit slow at times when certain plotlines dragged on too long. 

Rating: 7/10 

14. Nier Automata 

There were times with this one when I wasn't even quite sure what I was watching as an anime-only viewer who hasn't played the game this show is based on. The opening episode had exciting action and introduced two great lead characters, but the story became more confusing over time while providing little explanation for the bizarre evolution of AI that was happening. Currently on my indefinite hold list following episode 4.

First Impressions: 6.5/10 

15. The Iceblade Sorcerer Shall Rule The World 

The friendship between the main characters was a high point of the early episodes, but an increasing reliance on fanservice dragged this show down. The initial concept was interesting until the story went completely off the rails. Dropped at episode 4.

First Impressions: 5/10

16. Trigun Stampede 

Despite the cool sci-fi desert planet setting and some good animation during the action sequences, there was nothing about the plot or the characters that grabbed my interest. The villains were more like cartoon caricatures than people, and the weird tonal shift didn't work for me. Dropped at episode 3. 

First Impressions: 4/10

    That concludes my favorites of Winter 2023! Looking back on my list, it's amazing to see three anime in a single season which told a complete story in their 12 or 13 episode runs, and so many fantasy series that caught my interest when it's usually the genre I'm most picky about. There also seems to be a growing trend lately, both in manga and anime, that feature hitmen or assassins in slice-of-life comedies following the success of Spy x Family last year and Buddy Daddies this season, and I love it. There were several standouts this winter, and a few that I enjoyed so much, I've already started reading the source novels. You can read my comparison of Tomo-chan and Kaina's manga to their anime adaptations here on my blog. Stay tuned for more novel-to-anime comparisons for Sugar Apple Fairy Tale, Endo & Kobayashi, and Saving 80,000 Gold, as well as my continuing history series on the new spring anime Otaku Elf!

*screenshots taken by me from their respective anime and Kadokawa, Aniplex & Crunchyroll official Youtube channels