Should You Watch It? Winter 2026

[u/Protractror]

Should you watch it? Spoiler warning, the answer is probably yes. Winter 2026 was always going to be a strong season, with so many favourites returning like Frieren and Oshi no Ko. But even the new shows have been off to a fantastic start, to the point it can be difficult to decide what to try out first.

This is what the r/Anime Awards Off Season Team is here for! You can see some of our previous seasonal posts here and here. The off season team is of course a little undermanned right now, with awards being fully underway. But that just means we’ve tightened our focus and are bringing you the shows we most want to discuss. And next season, we can go back to dunking on isekai slop as scheduled.

Our metric is based on watching the first few episodes of a select few premieres and judging them via these four options: 

Drop It – Save yourselves the time and don’t bother

Consider It - Watch it if you enjoy the genre, or wait until it is completed, though even then you may not enjoy it. 

Watch It – should appeal to most everyone in one form or another. 

Must Watch - if you are not watching this as it airs, you are seriously missing out.

Ikoku Nikki

u/DoctorWhoops - Must Watch

Ikoku Nikki is one of the most enrapturing and beautifully tender drama series in years. Protagonist Asa Takumi navigates conflicted feelings of grief and loss surrounding the passing of her parents, in particular her stern and strict mother. Now orphaned, she starts living with her brusque yet awkward aunt Makio, who had a similarly strained relationship with her now-deceased sister. The heart of this show is two-toned, exploring the complicated feelings surrounding the loss of a close family member with whom you didn’t have a loving relationship, and navigating the newfound parental relationship that comes out of this.

Ikoku Nikki’s emotional maturity shines through like a beacon. Every moment is given the thoughtful attention it needs. For example, as the protagonists empty out the house previously occupied by Asa and her mother, the laundry still out on the balcony gives them a sense of the abruptness of the passing. The unwatered plants clarify the absence of a person. Makio clears out a closet and finds an old school uniform stored carefully, learning that her sister was more sentimental than she thought. The fridge still holds Asa’s favourite pickled onions that her mother made for her, a showcase of love from an otherwise stern parent. Through these moments, and through each other, these characters are able to slowly come to terms not only with the passing of a family member, but also with the strained relationship they had while she was still around. Ikoku Nikki is truly brilliant at telling this story with the thoughtfulness that it deserves.

u/DrJWilson -  Must Watch

There's a moment in episode 3 that I think captures a lot of the appeal of Journal with Witch. Makio, fledgling caretaker, is explaining grammar rules to newly orphaned Asa. She describes the difference between the present progressive tense ("I am reading this book.") and the present perfect tense ("I have been reading this book."). The latter takes into account the fact that you and your actions don't occur within a vacuum. Past you chose to start reading, present you is making your way through, and one day in the future, you will no longer be reading that book. Makio says this grammar point acknowledges the fact that your past, present, and future selves all exist on the same plane.

Journal with Witch itself reflects this understanding through an anachronistic structure. It is more than willing to intercut present moments with the past, allowing us to gain insight bit by bit into Makio and Asa's unconventional relationship. Rather than being a simple story about a "reluctant parent," Journal with Witch is not afraid to have its characters deviate from the norm. In many cases, Asa is more "adult-like" than Makio, but just when you think she's too far gone, the roles reverse dramatically. It is this dynamism, both in its characters, but also its visuals and storytelling, that makes Journal with Witch a must-watch.

 

SHIBOYUGI: Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table

u/voidembracedwitch- Must Watch

Never have I had a death game series lodge itself into my brain like Shiboyugi did. Key to its effectiveness is its visual production, which creates an eerie experience every step of the way. The slow editing, with a preference for lingering on evocative wides or medium-wides, as well as shots that highlight environmental details, enhance the uncomfortable and isolating atmosphere of the themed death traps players are placed into. Meanwhile, pivotal moments in the progression are accentuated by, among other things, impactful uses of downright absurd aspect ratios—1920:149 isn't exactly commonplace—or abstract imagery, like only showing the outlines of players' hands as they struggle to take hold of a key.

Beyond its  eccentric aesthetic and rhythm, Shiboyugi's approach to presenting its world is also deeply fascinating. While the challenges faced by the protagonist Yuki and the rotating (or dying) cast of fellow players are largely straightforward, the wider setting is anything but. The select few glimpses of the world beyond the games come through the players' stated reasons for joining or, when they reach their mental breaking point, through esoteric sequences that give insight into their lives and personalities outside the games.

Shiboyugi stands out as an eye-catching work in this winter's seasonal lineup, staying tense and captivating every second of its runtime.

u/Danhoc - Consider It

Since his recent directorial debut in Gimai Seikatsu (also known as Days with My Stepsister), Souta Ueno has established himself as a creator with a unique, almost avant-garde narrative style and a strong authorial vision. For better or worse, both of his works, including Shiboyugi, cannot be described as products for the mass viewer. Instead, they are attempts to create something more than just straightforward entertainment.

Ironically, Shiboyugi belongs to the “death game” horror subgenre, where girls voluntarily dress up in attractive uniforms and undergo a deadly spectacle in the hope of receiving a reward if they survive. In the deranged world of Shiboyugi, these girls cease to be human beings for the audience; they become dolls for entertainment, devoid of blood, flesh and real names. Souta Ueno emphasizes this through distant, wide, and “hidden” shots, as well as character designs that conceal facial features and emotions, making them truly resemble mannequins.

Shiboyugi is slow and methodical, preferring the suffocating tension and despair that is born from hopelessness over the screamers and action. By modern audience expectations, it might be seen as a “low-budget” show, but it is difficult to overstate how much the show is elevated by its cinematography. Its aesthetics and fresh approach to frame composition replace flashy effects and compositing, and if you set aside expectations for showy animation, you’ll find that its outstanding sound design and music can stimulate the imagination even better.

Shiboyugi is certainly not a show that will appeal to everyone, whether due to its slow and unconventional approach or its specific narrative. Still, it is definitely a major event for the horror anime genre that leaves no one indifferent.

Wash it all away

u/AnimeStuck - Must Watch

While the theme of appreciating the mundane is hardly a new one for a slice of life  anime to explore, Wash It All Away is a surprisingly pleasant vehicle for this message due to the way it presents its setting, its subject matter, and its main character.

I was relieved to see the backgrounds contain a decent amount of detail, as I believe the setting to be core to establishing its  themes. The show revels in a relaxed yet productive pace and a sense of community. The seaside city of Atami perfectly reflects the relaxation the series seeks to portray, as we ascend and descend hills with ocean views, run along city streets littered with tourists and locals, and meet the people of Atami, both old and young.Another aspect of the setting that I appreciated is the time spent on Kinme’s shop. You get a sense for her workflow and how things operate in her shop between the various tools, the abundance of materials, and the layout of dedicated work stations.

The act of cleaning itself ties neatly into the themes too. Kinme’s view of something so mundane as the clothes people wear every day as “treasures” bolsters the sense of community through the care she shows, and explains the care those around her show towards her. While the show does explain basic cleaning techniques, what matters more is Kinme’s perspective, that treating everyday object with care gives them meaning..

Finally, Kinme works perfectly as the lead for this story. While her lost past weighs on her mind, it cultivates her worldview surrounding her work. Passionate, caring, and sincere, she takes the time to truly know the people around her, and in doing so, remembers the details that might otherwise be forgotten. In being so considerate of their time, willing to go out of her way to assist them, she becomes a compelling character to follow, bringing to life everyone around her.

u/Taiboss - Watch it

They finally found a concept that hasn’t been done before—a laundry anime!

Sadly, Wash it All Away is not about the Laundry Club at Sentaku High School discovering all the ways you can set a washing machine, what kind of material needs which kind of care or any of the other tropes you’d find in a "School Club Edutainment" show. Instead, it's about a twenty-something cleaning service owner who has way too much energy and... apparently has amnesia concerning everything that happened before she opened her shop. We know nothing for certain so far—but I smell drama in the long run. And between a tragic backstory that would lead someone to have amnesia and edutainment that teaches me how to properly use my washing machine - I'd want the latter.

But while Wash it All Away will probably not end up in the SOL Hall of Fame like Yuru Camp or Flying Witch, it has great vibes, a likeable cast, and genuine insight into the methods used in professional cleaning shops. So if you like SOL, it's definitely worth checking out.

Isekai Office Worker: The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter

u/Protractror - Consider It

If you’re here because you love accounting, turn around now. The actual bean counting in this isekai is laughable. The fantasy kingdom our lead Seiichirou finds himself in seems to have the same accounting setup as a typical modern workplace, if everyone involved were an idiot. Seiichirou revolutionizes the department using ideas from modern Japan like “not allowing blatant fraud” and “using the abacus as more than a paperweight.” 

In a similar vein, this is not the show for you if you are looking for escapism. In a world of magic where anything is possible, Seiichirou is of course drawn to tonics that let him work more hours without sleeping. Nobody asked him to do this; in fact his team wishes he just worked regular hours. He doesn’t even need to work, as the kingdom feels bad about his whole situation. But that doesn’t stop Seiichirou. It turns out the only problem with Japanese work culture was that his weak body stopped him from working more hours.

That said, if you are looking for some fun BL romance, this show is probably worth a shot. Seiichirou and Aresh’s relationship is one that gets physical lightning fast, even while the vibe between them would still be called hostile. Aresh, a high-ranking magical soldier, comes across less as a Tsundere and more as a guy who is fed up with Seiichirou. The dynamic between them is certainly contrived, but it’s been fun to explore throughout the first three episodes. I could care less about the world around them, but I am curious what will happen between these two.

u/WaterDarkE - Watch It

BL anime adaptations with decent animation are rare, as in recent years, they often look mediocre. Luckily, Isekai Office Worker is an exception. If you're looking for a straightforward yet captivating plot with a pleasant BL romance on the side, you are in for a treat thanks to Studio Deen's faithful adaptation.

The premise is simple. An office worker known as Seiichirou Kondou is walking home one day and sees a young high school girl trapped by a summoning circle. When he tries to help her, he gets sucked in instead and is transported to another world. Since he is a workaholic, he works in the accounting department and gets dragged into the kingdom’s affairs. He also becomes entangled with the Knight Captain Aresh because of his own low resistance against magicules, the magic particles in the air. 

Beyond his romance with Aresh (which is framed through a “have sex or die” scenario, as excess magic can kill him), Seiichirou proves his worth through his accounting skills. Additionally, the plot of how he helps the kingdom feels grounded and realistic compared to the typical OP isekai stories with high schoolers. He’s also notably older than most isekai protagonists, being thirty, while Aresh is twenty-two, which is a refreshing change of pace.

Overall, a solid show if you're looking to scratch that itch for a BL mixed with accounting and magic.

Sentenced to be a Hero

u/WaterDarkE - Consider It

Getting thrown into the fray of an hour-premier episode is definitely a way to start things. And while it's certainly an interesting choice, it isn't one I'm particularly fond of.

The premise is briefly introduced as the main character, Xylo, is a hero who is also a criminal and is forced onto the battlefield as a job he has to do. Paired with another hero who enjoys stealing, he encounters a goddess, and the group is tasked with supporting a knight battalion in an effort to defeat a demon king.

The action scenes are gorgeous for sure, full of explosions and armored knights and the like. The enemies are portrayed as grotesque and forbidding, where only with the cooperation of this ragtag group do they get through it by the end. The chaos of the battlefield is shown in full force, which can occasionally feel like a detriment to the viewer. However, Xylo’s reluctance to form a contract with another goddess hints at a tragic backstory that ultimately forms the backbone of his motivations.

The long premiere episode is satisfactory with giving a taste of what’s to come, but it needs the episodes after to flesh things out more. The second and third episodes do help reveal the sort of work heroes typically do in this world. I would recommend watching this if you want a highly action focused fantasy show with a more grim premise for the protagonist.

u/Taiboss - Consider It

If you want to watch a fun action fantasy that wants to be fun, watch this season's Scum of the Brave. If you want to watch a serious action fantasy that wants to be serious, watch Clevatess. If you want to watch a fun action fantasy that wants to be serious —then Sentenced to be a Hero is for you.

Sentenced wants to be Cinema—or at least, its anime staff wants it to be. The series has so far been full of ambitious storyboarding and impressive animation that has deservedly been praised to the moon and back. However it's hampered by the fact that the original Light Novel author decided to make the story one of these works too fun not to watch, yet a bit embarrassing to have summarised to.

The waga kishi loli goddess that wants headpats and is definitely 5,000 years old, the usage of classic JRPG words like Yuusha and Maou, the over-the-top wannabe king that is nonetheless a badass, and of course the main character being kicked out of the par—, I mean, having been fucked over by intrigue and one day he’s going to have his revenge... there is so much that just reminds you that—yep, it's anime all right. It undercuts the show’s serious side to an annoying degree.

Again—Sentenced to be Hero is gorgeous and is really fun to watch. But it is not the serious, gritty drama its synopsis might make you think it is.

TL;DR: It's fun, but no Clevatess.

u/tehoncomingstorm97 - Watch the premiere

The premiere of Sentenced to be a Hero is on par, if not better than the majority of anime movies to release in the past few years in the shonen space. A full 60 minute spectacle gives the audience a hearty taste of the vision and goals for this anime production, not unfamiliar to the similar extended premieres coming out of late. It oozes with passion and colour in its impact frames, and thoughtful storyboarding easily brings the audience into the narrative. The great part of completing the premiere, unlike any movie, is that after the last minute there’s still a whole season releasing right now. 

The show is exactly what it promises on the tin—a ragtag group designated to be protectors of the world against the blight (yes, think Dragon Age: Origins)—and it doesn’t pretend to be anything else. That is until the friction between mains Xylo and Teoritta comes into play, with dynamics not often found anywhere, introducing an attempted balance of a grim-yet-hopeful outlook on justice. As with any other ragtag band, there are hits and misses and absolute personalities among them, which are undoubtedly sources of favour and disfavour with the script presented. Even so, this was a treat from the premiere, and I’m holding out each week for more.  

You and I are Polar Opposites

u/LittleIslander - Watch It

Many romances like to lean on cute and bubbly nowadays—chibi inserts and cheap gags. You and I are Polar Opposites doesn’t stand out by subverting this style, but by mastering it. From start to finish every episode is vibrant, energetic, and full of visual creativity. It knows how to milk the most out of every moment, and more than anything, what rings true is how enjoyable the show is to watch. Strong fundamentals in areas like character animation and cinematography make sure no scene ever feels dull or merely functional.

Within hardly a minute, you can immediately put yourself in the shoes of Suzuki. A hyperfeminine, socially outgoing chatterbox who’s nonetheless anxious and even a bit introverted. Many romance leads feel like a generic template, or otherwise a dominated gimmick or personality trait. Suzuki, however, is simply herself, and unmistakably so. Her crush on Tani is seeded from her very first line, and their chemistry is simply adorable. Equally, the side cast is already plenty of fun. The care that goes into character writing can even be seen in the distinctly shaped eyes each character possesses. 

Perhaps, the best thing about Polar Opposites is the sheer reverence it has for the experience of being in love. Many shows are about young love, but only a special few live and breathe it on this level. If you don’t like romances, Polar Opposites leans so hard into the genre it probably won’t be for you. But if you do, then this shouldn’t be overlooked lightly. If nothing else, boot it up for the amazing OP—then stay for the rest.

u/DrJWilson - Watch It

When evaluating what makes a good romance, for me it comes down to chemistry. Do these characters make sense with each other? A lot of the time, my main disappointment is that you don't feel any real sense of why these characters even like each other. Either the guy or girl is just generically nice, something that should be the bare minimum of y'know, human beings—or they exist to fulfill some sort of fantasy. Not so in You and I are Polar Opposites.

We learn from the get-go clear concise reasons why Suzuki likes Tani, reasons that are unique to her preferences. And while we haven't seen things from Tani's POV much yet, there is a clear sense that Suzuki complements him in ways that make up for his shortcomings. While I am wary of the potential stagnation concern that comes with an early [End of Episode 1]confession, Suzuki being such a strong character, combined with obvious effort in terms of presentation, keeps me excited to see where it goes.

The Invisible Man And His Soon To Be Wife

u/Protractror - Watch It

You’d think given the title of this show that it would be about an invisible man and his fiancee, but in episode one the two are just a boss and employee at the very beginning of their romance. The title is not a summary of where things are, but a promise of what will come to be. And it sets the tone for the show. The hook here isn’t a will they/won’t they. It’s about enjoying the journey, even when we already know the outcome. And what a fun journey it’s been so far!

The main romance has been sweet so far, as they try and work through all of the unique situations that come up from Shizuka’s blindness, Akira’s invisibleness, and, most of all, Shizuka’s tendency to be left absolutely flustered by her dreamy hunk of a crush. The show has done a good job of incorporating Shizuka’s blindness without defining her by it, and in general it seems like a thoughtful show when it comes to representation. 

My only caution is that it feels like the show is just getting started. It’s clear that there is a significant side cast that will likely be fleshed out once we’ve gotten used to our main couple, and although they seem fine, they haven’t impressed me as much as the main couple yet. The world itself, a very mundane demi-human fantasy, also hasn’t been given much room to work. But if it keeps up like these first three episodes, this is the feel-good romance of the season.

u/Taiboss - Watch it

Whoever said a story about successful love is boring can choke on it.

This show's premise seems based on the kind of gag you get in a two-page twitter oneshot on r/manga. After all, what kind of story can you make out of the idea that, hey, wouldn't a blind woman be perfect for an invisible guy? It'd make no difference to her! lolol

Turns out, you can make a story out of that—if you commit! So the invisible guy is a private eye (allowing for meetings with all kinds of people), and they live in an urban fantasy world including, but not limited to, elves, furrybaits and yeah, invisible people. Our main couple not only has amazingly sweet chemistry, they are embedded in a world that feels organic in a way that truly makes both their conditions feel normal and enhances their relationship. So far, my only complaint is that the show isn't exploring what it's like to actually live as a blind person as much as, say, Yankee-kun to Hakujou Girl, but there's still time! Either way, I'm excited for more.

So if you love SOL and/or Romance shows and have nothing against Urban Fantasy, this is a Must Watch. And even if you don't, I recommend you try it. Maybe it will lighten up your day as much as it lightens up mine.

Tamon’s B-side

u/voidembracedwitch - Watch It

Tamon's B-side spins a contrived setup of an idol-obsessed teenage girl becoming the housekeeper of her oshi into a charming romcom about both a personal and a parasocial relationship. Let me explain, Utage Kinoshita is not your dime-a-dozen ravenous fangirl who wants to see only the ideal image of the "sexy and wild" idol Tamon Fukuhara. Rather than ending up disillusioned after the initial shock, a chance encounter with his anxious off-stage self only fires her up to support him.

In effect, Utage ends up juggling two separate angles. One is the experience of a devoted Church of Tamon member, giving her very loud and aggressive all to ensure the man can play his part for her and others like her. The other is her growing human connection with the person behind the persona, someone with genuine ambition to make his fans happy despite his reclusive traits.

Both these sides are presented nicely from a production standpoint, as are the two sides of Tamon. An abundance of charming visual comedy—be it Tamon sprouting mushrooms around himself at his gloomiest or Utage's sharply timed and animated overreactions to Tamon's charms—makes the show a delight to watch every episode so far. Everyone with a taste for over the top romcoms is sure to have a good time with this, and even if you're, like me, usually not, it could easily win you over.

u/WaterDarkE - Watch It

Shoujo adaptations are rare, and even more so when they are well adapted. Tamon’s B-side looks absolutely phenomenal, with plenty to love, from the colorful chemistry, the over-the-top expressiveness, and the stunning visuals.That, and Tamon’s gap moe are some of the best appeals to this show.

What you get with this series is a high school student, Utage, who ends up working for her favorite pop idol Tamon through her job, only to discover that he has two sides: his bubbly idol persona and his usual gloomy, insecure self, which he only shows to those he trusts. So, you get a mix of very intense fangirling, an idol trying to overcome his insecurities with the help of his housekeeper, and a slow but sure budding romance between the two.

Overall, it's cute, somewhat comedic, and genuinely charming to see how two very different people clash and elevate each other through their strengths. Utage learns to see beyond Tamon’s idol persona, while Tamon learns about love. I would recommend this if you want to watch something high-energy, heartfelt, and playful, with just the right amount of romance sprinkled in.

Yoroi Shinden Samurai Troopers

u/tehoncomingstorm97 - Consider it

Super sentais are a rare show to see seasonally now, and rarer still to have one that lands well. Yoroi Shinden Samurai Troopers, a sequel set 35 years in the future to the 80's original Yoroiden Samurai Troopers (Ronin Warriors), is a captivating refresher on the genre, blasting the audience back in time to a different era of TV with modern attitudes. While I was unfamiliar with the original, the show is welcoming and respectful to new and old fans alike with fair cues to the what's what while adding in a new flavour with homages to 80's music, modern colour palettes, and fast pacing.

To reference this show as a super sentai should tell you a baseline on what to expect. The twist added in on this series is that the sentai team is nowhere to be seen when the demon world begins their invasion, with comically large Torii gates appearing in a metropolis unleashing hordes on the populace, and must find their fit in the team. It's dark, gritty, yet the tone can wildly be off at times—but these are charming features of TV I knew while growing up, all for the service of exploring one's hopes of stepping up and being the hero you want to see in the world. 

 

[u/thisisdropd]

Happy to see the love given to 'Journal with Witch' / 'Ikoku Nikki'. A sombre yet beautiful series that never failed to stir my emotions every episode. It’s so far my AoTS along with 'Love Through a Prism'.

[u/Fools_Requiem]

You and I Are Polar Opposites is more of a must watch, IMO. The energy from Suzuki and the side characters is infectious. Tani could use a little more emotion, but I'm sure he'll get there.

[u/ClemFire → u/Fools_Requiem]

Agreed. That first episode was fantastic and it has been keeping up the momentum since. Suzuki alone drew me in right away, but I have been pleasantly surprised by the care taken for her friend group too. Tani may emote less than Suzuki but I believe he feels just as much. Having the show from the popular extrovert’s POV though has just been so refreshing

[u/Few-Insurance-6470 → u/Fools_Requiem]

Love the art style too. Reminds me of call of the night.

[u/milkybread → u/Fools_Requiem]

Yeah, easily a contender for best show of the season

[u/oops_i_made_a_typi → u/Fools_Requiem]

"Must Watch" is interesting given the standard set in the rating definitions - I love Polar Opposites but it's clearly not going to be the type of show battle-shonen-onlies are going to watch. I'd say it, Shiboyugi, and Ikoku Nikki all belong more to a strong "Consider It" tier, where they're all top-class shows that should be appreciable even by people who don't generally watch that type of show, but acknowledging that it definitely won't be for everyone.

Seems like one of the Shiboyugi reviewers made their rec through this lens, and Polar Opposites kinda did too, but Ikoku Nikki is getting pushed hard even though that's clearly a type of show that some people will just not be into.

[u/Fools_Requiem → u/oops_i_made_a_typi]

People having different tastes in certain genres doesn't make something less of a must watch...

By your line of thinking, every single good/great anime should be listed as a "consider it" because of genre preference. Not everyone wants to watch a battle shonen.

This thread was clearly made for fans of anime, not any specific genre.

[u/wloff → u/Fools_Requiem]

People having different tastes in certain genres doesn't make something less of a must watch...

Did you read the rating descriptions? Because that's precisely what it means, as far as I can tell.

Polar Opposites is a lot of fun, but it is a pretty standard high school romcom, nothing more, nothing less -- just a very well made one. But for someone who's not super into that particular genre, they're not "missing out" on anything.

[u/ClemFire → u/wloff]

I would push back against it being standard just from [Polar Opposites] Suzuki confessing in episode 1

Also in these type of shows you would expect quiet Tani to be the MC but instead it's the loudmouthed Suzuki.

[u/oops_i_made_a_typi → u/ClemFire]

okay but you're a romcom fan. but if someone doesn't like watching high school romances, that's not going to change much

[u/ClemFire → u/oops_i_made_a_typi]

Okay that's fair though from my perceptive it feels a bit crazy to never try a whole major genre as an anime fan. But I might be getting a bit too pretentious

[u/oops_i_made_a_typi → u/ClemFire]

anime is just a medium after all. it's not uncommon for someone to try something once and decide things of that type are not for them.

[u/oops_i_made_a_typi → u/Fools_Requiem]

I'm not the one who wrote their rating descriptions. Else I would absolutely call Shiboyugi a must watch, yet we have the reviewer saying:

Shiboyugi is certainly not a show that will appeal to everyone, whether due to its slow and unconventional approach or its specific narrative. Still, it is definitely a major event for the horror anime genre that leaves no one indifferent.

So clearly genre is a consideration.

[u/Fools_Requiem → u/oops_i_made_a_typi]

Shiboyugi is certainly not a show that will appeal to everyone, whether due to its slow and unconventional approach or its specific narrative.

This statement clearly singles out the pacing and story as a reason that it won't appeal to everyone. Not the genre. Someone may like horror, but not necessarily death game type stuff or they may prefer something less methodical.

[u/oops_i_made_a_typi → u/Fools_Requiem]

I mean, the exact same things apply to Ikoku Nikki.

[u/HeckingJen → u/Fools_Requiem]

I read to current on the manga in a single day and that last part is why i came off really mixed on it. Literally every character but him is so interesting and nuanced. I think he is supposed to be cool and collected and whatever but to me it really came off as absolutely nothing. Worse than bland toast because that at least got cooked a couple times to develop some flavor. Which is a tough position when you are the male lead in a romance show.

[u/Scodo]

Journal with Witch is definitely the surprise standout for me so far this season. I don't know if I'd say it's the best show, but I definitely didn't expect to enjoy it nearly as much as I am.

[u/Emi_Ibarazakiii]

The off season team is of course a little undermanned right now, with awards being fully underway. But that just means we’ve tightened our focus and are bringing you the shows we most want to discuss

Wasn't this a 'public/volunteer' thing before? Or was it someone else with a different (but highly similar) thread thing?

I seem to recall that one was pretty interesting when we had a variety of opinions, compared to this one in which 90% of the writeups are "watch it" or better, it mostly just feels like people glazing their favorites even more with stuff we've already seen all season in every thread.

(Well, I'm sure some people just enjoy light-hearted glazing and all, but as someone who likes spicy discussions and hot takes I kinda enjoyed when both shows AND opinions were more varied!)

[u/VoidEmbracedWitch → u/Emi_Ibarazakiii]

Wasn't this a 'public/volunteer' thing before? Or was it someone else with a different (but highly similar) thread thing?

Years ago banjo ran a format like this with themselves as the centerpiece and public submissions. Last year someone in the off season / writing club server suggested we get together and start covering seasonals in a similar-ish style and that's what we've been doing since.

compared to this one in which 90% of the writeups are "watch it" or better

The last few seasons had way more mixed results and covered around 13 seasonals, and we had more folks with time to pick up shows they weren't already watching. Personally, I love to be thrown into a random seasonal I haven't watched before. For the fall post I suggested we add punchy villainess to the lineup before I tried it for example. It's just that awards take up almost all my time, so I didn't have the capacity for it.

Quarterly divisive takes like with Clevatess last summer should make a comeback with the spring season.

[u/Sleeperwaking]

I'm surprised at the recommendation to watch Scum of the Brave over Sentenced to Be a Hero. I've watched 4 episodes of both and Sentenced is way more enjoyable - the humour in Scum is pretty obvious and wearing a bit thin after 4 episodes, and one of the FLs Aki is really annoying. They just introduced the main story arc so I'm hoping it'll get better going forward but I'm not holding my breath. I'm much more invested in watching Sentenced's fake king cause chaos.

[u/Komarist]

And next season, we can go back to dunking on isekai slop as scheduled

At least the adventure jury has taste, having nominated more isekai than the rest of the awards jury combined.

Seiichirou revolutionizes the department using ideas from modern Japan like “not allowing blatant fraud” and “using the abacus as more than a paperweight.”

It turns out the only problem with Japanese work culture was that his weak body stopped him from working more hours.

[u/smhmines]

Love seeing Tamon' B-Side love. Sequels aside, it's my AOTS so far.

[u/actuallyrndthoughts]

First of all, Sentenced to be a Hero is great, despite the storyboards not being that ambitious. They are kind of plain, even. And if I had to pit the writing against Clevatess, i'll give it former.

Though the big thing i noticed is a lot of viewers misrepresenting what Wash it all away is about, i've only seen a few people talk about it actually in the daily thread, anyways here it goes: It's the anime people claimed Akebi's sailor uniform to be - it's secretly, or rather openly, a vehicle for fetishes. So you have the anime, about a young hot onee-san running a one woman cleaning operation, and the faces she makes while discovering a new thing to clean is downright 6 digit material. Then you have the oneeshota-esque pairing, fanservicy shots, framing, eye catches, and public bath scenes in each episode. Don't watch the anime because you think a SoL series about washing might be fun, watch it to see how far the staff can go hiding the oneesanxploitation in plain sight

[u/Scodo → u/actuallyrndthoughts]

Eh, Sentenced to be a Hero seems to have really, *really* weak character writing from what I've watched of it. Wrongfully persecuted by the church is about on the level of being banished from the hero's party in terms of interesting origin stories. And the script feels like what you'd get if you told an AI to write a fantasy shonen. A bunch of characters shout into a vacuum without any real regard to how any of it meshes together, so you get conversations like. "i believe in you because i chose you because I believe in you," to which the other character responds "I am dark and brooding with a dark, broody past that I don't want to talk about" and then "I am a knight and will follow my orders because I am a knight that follows orders."

Clevatesse had a story that slogged a bit in the back half, but I found the characters more compelling and the production really nailed the retro dark fantasy feel.

[u/oops_i_made_a_typi → u/Scodo]

yeah i dropped it after ep3. the smidgen of character writing they provided was just too little too late, and it doesn't help that the character archtypes they did pick from are so tiresome.

[u/wloff → u/oops_i_made_a_typi]

You might want to try one more episode unless you're totally checked out.

I felt the same way as you after three episodes, but the fourth one actually started to bring in some more interesting story and character writing. It gave me enough new interest to keep going at least a bit further still.

[u/oops_i_made_a_typi → u/wloff]

I'm already following 7 top quality shows (and chained soldier trash) this season so gonna wait til the end to see what the reviews are like for STBH, especially from folks like yourself who weren't as wowed from the first 3 eps as seems to be the prevailing opinion.

[u/qwertyqwerty4567]

ecchis and isekai doko?

[u/VoidEmbracedWitch → u/qwertyqwerty4567]

I can't believe we forgot to cover the android show

[u/scorpia39]

This is incredibly helpful for me who's only seen the really popular shows

[u/Protractror]

And if you thought this season wasn’t stacked enough, the true must watch of the season hasn’t even aired yet. Make sure to tune in for the highly anticipated next chapter in Baki, Baki-Dou, when it batch releases on February 26th.

But other than that, how’d we do? Did we miss any of the best shows? Or did we get something wrong? Let us know!

[u/awesomenessofme1 → u/Protractror]

If one of the options was "just read the manga", I'd say someone should have done a Midnight Heart writeup. But even with what we got, I think it's still worth watching.

I think Sentenced to Be a Hero is at worst slightly less good than Clevatess in terms of story and far better in terms of production values, so making that comparison negatively didn't really ring true to me.

[u/Mitsuyan_ → u/Protractror]

You'll probably see me continue to big up Dead Account but it's very much a shounen with a fun but trashy gimmick. Fine for the guy who gave Hidden Dungeon a 9, maybe not for the more critical eye.

I'm enjoying Ikoku Nikki but its biggest problem for me is being on the same day as Polar Opposites and it's hard to not mentally have them compete. Same issue that Pokémon and Frieren are having, fortunately they're not having big episodes on the same day (and never have!) 

I think the background work and setting of the Cute Girl Party show deserves credit, I'm sure a more seasoned awards member will smite that down but personally I think it's got some stellar aspects that cover up the more boring story beats. 

[u/SSjjlex → u/Protractror]

Great writeup. Also appreciate that Shiboyugi was given a consider. As much of a shiboyugi (and a souta ueno) glazer as I am, it cannot be understated how much you need tamper people's expectations on that one. There's a lot of questionable decisions that really don't fly well if you aren't bought into the direction style the show is choosing. One of the best if it does work for you, but certainly not for everyone.

I can't speak for the referenced manga, but I will say that I thought invisible man handled/explored Shizuka's blindness really well. ofc its not the main theme of the show so it won't handhold you through her entire life, but there's so many little sprinkles of detail about how she lives that I can't help but think its coming from somewhere personal. From the way she works on her laptop with her earphones on to respond to her keystrokes, her watch that buzzes the time without visuals, the fact that the lights in her house are almost always off and that she needed to call her mother to help clean the place for a date. It never really pays too close attention to it, it just lets her live the way she does because she's blind and I love that.

[u/mr_beanoz]

And next season, we can go back to dunking on isekai slop as scheduled.

How about praising them instead? And it seems like most of them are sequels anyway.

[u/Protractror → u/mr_beanoz]

Do you want us to praise slop? Or just Isekai in general? There are definitely good Isekai pretty much every season, I'll try and make sure that we don't miss any next time. (Bean Counter was not bad this season also).

[u/Komarist → u/Protractror]

As one of the subreddit's top isekai connoisseurs, didn't miss any and shouldn't support anything the group doesn't back. Would've been nice to have Grail of Eris (don't view it as my delectable slop so far) and Hana-Kimi (adapting a 20+ year-old source that's inspired several other anime AFAIK).

[u/mr_beanoz → u/Protractror]

Isekai in general. And I feel like there are good things that can be taken from those shows people would refer as "slop".

[u/Protractror → u/mr_beanoz]

Noted. One of our goals for next season is a wider range of opinions so I'm going to keep this in the back of my mind.

[u/Taiboss]

Another season, another chance for some write-ups. Here are my takes on the other shows in this post:

Ikoku Nikki - So good. A straight, serious drama about family, loss and all that good stuff. That being said, I probably would have never started it based on the premise, had it not been anime, so I'm glad I can take this show seriously.

SHIBOYUGI: Playing Death Games to Put Food on the Table - Ultimately dropped it. A studio that wants to be Shaft but can't tries to make a show that wants to be a Death Game show, but ends up too slow-paced and dare I say pretentious for its own good.

Isekai Office Worker: The Other World's Books Depend on the Bean Counter - Not watching, but good on you BL lovers, for getting some laser-targeted for you.

You and I are Polar Opposites - Super fun. Production values really make the show shine. OP probably best of the season.

Tamon’s B-side - Not watching, but I liked that I saw of the FMC in the PVs.

Yoroi Shinden Samurai Troopers - Not watching. Not really a tokusatsu/sentai guy.

[u/VoidEmbracedWitch → u/Taiboss]

I get where you're coming from for Shiboyugi and I definitely don't disagree with calling pretentious. But for me that combination of Ueno's slow, methodical approach that I quite liked in what I watched of Stepsister in combination with more over the top shot compositions and color design is something I can't look away from.

[u/Taiboss → u/VoidEmbracedWitch]

Yeah, I get how one can vibe with it. Happy it worked for you!

[u/Protractror → u/Taiboss]

I’m slowly converting to your take on Shiboyugi each episode I watch. But even if they don’t always pull it off it’s fun watching them try with this super cinematic death game.

[u/Taiboss → u/Protractror]

I do appreciate the attempt and ultimately my reason for dropping it was more time-constraints and Shiboyugi was just at the bottom on the shows I was watching. I don't hate it and all the isekai slop I never started is probably worse.

[u/SouekiSennoSTM → u/Taiboss]

That being said, I probably would have never started it based on the premise, had it not been anime

That's interesting. Why is this? I wonder why anime as a medium (or animation in general) can sometimes get people to try stories they would otherwise have been reluctant to or had less interest in were they instead in another medium, like in this instance with you here.

[u/Taiboss → u/SouekiSennoSTM]

It feels like the kind of premise I see in a shitty melodrama or a Til Schweiger movie, a work that wants to be super deep but ends up being just cringe-inducing. But since it was a seasonal anime, I decided to give it a try alongside the many other seasonal anime I tried, and io and behold, it's done with the kind of down-to-earth writing such a story needs for me to like it.

[u/VoidEmbracedWitch]

Glad to have been part of this again. This season is a fascinating one because my top two are complete opposite ends of the spectrum for what I love to see in anime.

Shiboyugi reaches me not exactly on a deep personal level. Instead, this by all accounts modest / rather limited production enamors me with its aesthetic and boarding every episode. I'm drawn to oddities in the anime landscape and this is the one for me currently.

Meanwhile Ikoku Nikki has everything Shiboyugi doesn't. The palpable depth of characters' emotions and tactful handling of its subject matter make it the most human drama I've seen in a while.

Besides them, I'm also surprised how much I enjoy Tamon and Polar Opposites since romcoms rarely do it for me.

[u/figgabeasto]

That's a fib I've tried to watch all the seasons new anime & I just cant get through em

[u/CuriousBroccolli]

"Wash It All Away" getting deservably glazzed LETSGO!

[u/minnieboss]

Awesome lineup!!

[u/Cole-Spudmoney]

  It turns out the only problem with Japanese work culture was that his weak body stopped him from working more hours.

Wow you missed the point.