A curious thing has occurred during this last quarter of the season. Shows with potential that hadn’t made much in the way of mistakes had a few stumbles and other shows had finally worn out their welcome. It is that three quarter fatigue that hits each season where some start looking to what is coming next. For me though, I still have to admit, this Summer anime season has been great. There were so many shows that were potentially interesting and enough of them have paid off to keep me entertained each week with lots to talk about. Later this week I’ll open up the poll for best anime of the season as voted by you, but for now, this is where my watch list is sitting.
Dropped or On-Hold
Do You Love Your Mom And her Two Hit Multi-Target Attacks
Still dropped since last time.
- Tsuujou Kougeki ga Zentai Kougeki de Ni-kai Kougeki no Okaasan wa Suki Desu ka? Dir. Y Iwasaki. J.C. Staff. 2019
Granbelm
Irina’s done a great job reviewing this one but I find myself coming up with more and more reasons why I’m too busy to get back to it. I might finish it at some point but it isn’t a high priority right now.
Want to see more thoughts from Irina on Granbelm?
Images from: Granbelm. Dir. M Watanabe. Nexus. 2019.
Fire Force
This one has mostly just slid down my priority list as a few work things have taken hold and because Irina has been covering the reviews for me it ends up at the bottom of my watch list and now I’m episodes behind. I haven’t dropped it, but I’m definitely a long way behind at this point and probably won’t catch up before the end of Summer.
Want more Fire Force reviews from Irina?
Images from: Fire Force. Dir. Y Yase. David Production. 2019.
Affiliate Link – Game
Lowest Priority
Arifureta
Yeah, I kind of hate this anime. Judging it on its own merit it has poorly introduced characters with rushed or no development depending on who they are and a plot that hasn’t got a foundation to stand on because at no point has anything actually been established. It remains visually messy and honestly there’s very little appeal. If I then think about how much better the light novel was, I just can’t think of any reason why someone should watch the anime version of this. I’m completing it because I want to see how it ends, but honestly, this one isn’t just low priority at this point, it is an avoid at all costs anime for someone thinking about what to watch.
If you are game, check out more reviews of Arifureta.
Images from: Arifureta: From Commonplace to World’s Strongest. Dir. K Yoshimoto. White Fox. 2019.
Demon-Lord, Retry!
I’m probably having as little fun with Demon Lord, Retry as I am with Arifureta but this one is a tiny bit better in that part of the reason I don’t like this one is the humour doesn’t work for me. I imagine for those that find this funny, it is infinitely more entertaining. However, with my not finding it particularly amusing, what I have left is a half-hearted harem around a boring protagonist and a plot that doesn’t seem to have any actual sense of direction. It just isn’t working for me however this one is at least watchable and I’m not just sitting through it to see how bad it gets. I’m still finding enough of those moments that kind of work to make me hopeful that maybe it will grab me even as we run out of run time to do so.
Want to know about other episodes of Demon Lord, Retry!?
Images from: Maou-Sama, Retry! Dir. H Kimura. EKACHI EPILKA. 2019.
Isekai Cheat Magician
I wasn’t wanting a lot from this one and by and large it is more or less what I expected but it seems to be running out of steam. If you want standard isekai in every sense of the word that is what is on display here though there’s little to distinguish it in either a good or a bad way at this point. Which unfortunately makes it the most forgettable of the three isekai titles scraping the bottom of my watch list.
Do You Want To Read More About Isekai Cheat Magician?
Images from: Isekai Cheat Magician. Dir. T Daisuke. Encourage Films. 2019.
Cop Craft
While visually still rough, it is the characters and plot that have cause Cop Craft to drop from fun to low priority. Character development is abandoned without elaboration and the plot goes from a comedy routine to a serious political investigation and back again episode to episode. Honestly, this one had a lot of potential even with its clearly lower budget and yet this last quarter of a season has shown more and more cracks in the story and ultimately I feel this one is going to be swiftly forgotten once it finishes.
Want more reviews from Cop Craft?
Images from: Cop Craft. Dir. S Itagaki. Millepensee. 2019.
These Are Fun
Are You Lost?
So not only am I still watching this but I’m actually really having fun with it’s silliness at this point. The shorter episode format works in its favour but each week these girls get up to new survival antics with a few gags, some land and some don’t, and honestly this one is just a fun watch. Not deep and meaningful but worth watching for a bit of a chill out or laugh.
- Sounan Desu Ka Episodes 1 – 5
- Images from: Are You Lost? Dir. N Nagayama. Ezola. 2019.
The One’s Within
I honestly expected this to be in my top picks by this stage after the way it built up over the first half. However, this one is one that has really struggled in the second half of the season and episode 8 was perhaps the weakest showing yet. It might still bounce back with a solid finish, and either way it is still something that if you are after something a bit different is worth trying, but right now this one isn’t one that has to be seen as it feels like it is falling a little bit to pieces.
Do you want to read more about The Ones Within?
Images from: Nakanohito Genome [Jikkyouchuu]. Dir. S Oonuma. Silver Link. 2019.
Dr Stone
I’m enjoying this one more now that Senkyu is connecting with the village. Maybe the character dynamic is working better for me or maybe I just got used to this show. It still isn’t an absolute must watch, but it sure has been fun and seems to be bubbling along nicely. Looking forward to more from this one and hopefully the characters can continue to grow on me.
Want to follow Senku on his journey to bring back civilisation?
Images from: Dr Stone. Dir. I Shinya. TMS Entertainment. 2019.
If It’s For My Daughter I’d Even Defeat a Demon Lord
If you are after the consistent cuteness and feels, Uchi no Musume probably has you covered. Dale seems to have settled a bit, we’ve gotten some backstory on Latina and learned a bit about Demon Lords in the last couple of episodes which all seems to be setting up a decent finish to the season but maybe it is setting up stuff for much further down the track and then those of us who are only watching the anime will never know what happens next. Still, this one has been great fun to watch this season.
Want to read more reviews discussing how cute Latina is?
Images from: Uchi no Musume no Tame Naraba, Ore Wa Moshikashitara Maou mo Taoseru Kamo Shirenai. Dir. T Yanase. Maho Film. 2019.
DanMachi Season 2
It actually kind of hurts for this to not be a top pick but it kind of is the nature of the arc this story is telling that it just isn’t quite as fun as season one. There are still some great moments and all of this is important for Bell in terms of where he’s going as a character, but still, week to week, this isn’t a must watch viewing experience. Probably if this were out on DVD and a third season that moved on to the next arc were out, this would be fine because you could see the journey and watch it at your own pace, but taking each episode as they come it just isn’t stacking up to some of the other great titles this season.
Want more discussions of DanMachi Season 2 from Irina and Karandi?
Images from: DanMachi 2nd Season. Dir. T Hideki. J.C. Staff. 2019.
Demon Slayer
What is stopping Demon Slayer from being back in my top picks is that it really feels like it is stretching things out now. Three episodes for Rui to die took its toll no matter how interesting some of the individual moments in those episodes were. On the back of the comedic low point in between fighting the demon in the house and entering the mountain, this second cour just hasn’t been as strong as the first despite still being highly entertaining overall. Inconsistency is the main problem here but when things come together, this anime is amazing.
Have you missed a review from Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba?
Images from: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. Dir. H Sotozaki. Ufotable. 2019.
Affiliate Link – Figurek
My Top Picks
To The Abandoned Sacred Beasts
There’s a bit of criticism of this show floating around, and then there’s a lot of people who seem to just not realise this title is a thing. I don’t disagree with some of the criticism being thrown around, but I really enjoy watching this anime. It is an interesting premise and while the characters haven’t had as much development as they really need to pull off some of the more emotional moments in the story I’ve come to really like watching them and their interactions. I keep wanting to know where this story will go next and I’m very much loving the fact that I picked this one up this season.
Reviews of To The Abandoned Sacred Beasts
are available for Patrons on Patreon.
Images from: To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts. Dir. J Shishido. MAPPA. 2019.
Fruits Basket
While the second cour of Fruits Basket hasn’t had quite the wow factor of the first, it has certainly continued to be an emotional and interesting journey for the characters. I’m really loving this adaptation of the story and it keeps me wanting to watch more and learn more about each of the cast. Hopefully this one ends on a strong note.
Would you like to read more about Fruits Basket’s feels?
Images from: Fruits Basket. Dir. Y Ibata. TMS Entertainment. 2019.
Astra Lost in Space
Astra Lost in Space or Kanata no Astra remains one of my solid favourites for the season. While I was a little disappointed with episode 8 and felt it didn’t quite commit to its own cliff-hanger, episode 9 certainly made me feel that the writers knew what their intentions were from the beginning with a lot of loose ends being tied up and the few that are left looking like they will be resolved. It is rare for a story to feel so nicely mapped out but the end result has been a pretty satisfying viewing experience and while I might have a couple of issues with the show, it is certainly one I will happily recommend. It has just been a fun ride.
Want To Read More About Astra Lost in Space?
Images from: Kanata no Astra. Dir. M Andou. Lerche. 2019.
Given
In terms of a show that has consistently conveyed its tone and built on its characters and drama, Given can’t be beaten. Sure it isn’t as flashy looking as some of the other shows this season, but there’s a real care about how it has been put together and some quality pacing within episodes and writing really elevates the viewing experience, not to mention the use of colour (just ask Irina about that). I’m loving this show and I’m really glad Irina and I decided to cover it together because it has been quite the experience.
Want more rambling thoughts from Irina and Karandi on Given?
Images from: Given. Dir. H Yamaguchi. Lerche. 2019.
We are so close to the end of the Summer season and that means I will have to start looking at what I might pick up next season, however for now I’m just going to enjoy this great season of anime to the fullest. How about you? What shows are you still loving and which are you just over?
Thank-you for reading 100 Word Anime.
Join the discussion in the comments.
Karandi James
I have to confess I’m not really feeling Fire Force and with it being 24 episodes I might have to reconsider sticking with it. :\
Clearly I wasn’t really feeling it either. Without the assumed pressure of getting a post out each week it became very easy to just fall behind.
I think you’re right about Demon Slayer. It’s second cour has gotten better since last check in and it’s probably better then Fire Force right now, but Zenitsu and Inosuke have still hurt it quite a bit.
And yay Astra :). I do feel bad about dropping Given after a first episode, so I might digging into it soon instead of Cop Craft.
Cop Craft just isn’t doing anything with the potential it had. They’ve done almost nothing with the premise other than occasionally the criminals are aliens and they aren’t doing enough with the two characters since they established their odd couple relationship. It just isn’t going anywhere. I still would like it to improve but we’re pretty much out of time at this point.
Given is really a solid watch but it is definitely slow going. That adds to the overall atmosphere but I can see why that would drive some viewers up the wall as they linger in some scenes.