Spring 2023 Anime Watchlist
I'm adding 15 series to my list for the coming season and will hopefully have no regrets.
The previous season of anime was full of shows that surprised me with how good they were. Series like Buddy Daddies and Onimai did extremely well to prove themselves coming off the back of a huge Fall 2022 season.
The coming season looks like it’s going to be another good one too. Here’s what I’ll be watching:
Jigokuraku (Hell’s Paradise)
A highly anticipated series based on the manga of the same name. The manga was serialised in Shounen Jump+ and the anime adaptation will be animated by MAPPA.
Gabimaru is a ninja on death row, but his love for his wife is so strong that he refuses to die. The executioner offers him an opportunity to join an expedition to search for the elixir of life.
“Oshi no Ko” (My Star)
Another insanely popular manga is getting an anime adaptation. “Oshi no Ko” is an isekai-meets-showbiz series from studio Doga Kobo (Himouto! Umaru-chan and Yuru Yuri).
Ai Hoshino is a 16 year-old idol who has fallen pregnant. Her gynaecologist is a big fan, but his untimely death results in him being reborn. The weird part is that he’s reborn as the son of his favourite idol. Classic isekai.
Mashle
Born into a world of magic without the ability to use it is a curse, but Mash Burnedead refuses to let that get in his way. Like Asta (Black Clover), he decides to train his body in order to become accepted by society to become the Divine Visionary.
Yamada-kun to Lv999 no Koi wo Suru (Loving Yamada at Lv999)
An anime that was specifically designed to poke at my trauma.
Akane’s boyfriend cheats on her with a girl he met in an online game - classic. She continues to play the game as a way to deal with the heartbreak, but ends up meeting Yamada, a guildmate who is insanely good at gaming, but has no experience in romance.
Kimi wa Houkago Insomnia (Insomniacs After School)
A charming school romance between Magari and Nakami blooms when they get locked in the Astronomy Club’s abandoned observatory. Nakami finds a new way to cope with his insomnia as he starts to spend more time with the rebellious Magari.
Boku no Kokoro no Yabai Yatsu (The Dangers in My Heart)
Ichikawa wants to murder the class idol, Anna Yamada. But his murderous intent turns into something else when he ends up spending time with Anna in the library. The most popular girl in school stuffs her face with sweets in secret with Ichikawa, who gets flustered at the sight of her.
Otonari ni Ginga (A Galaxy Next Door)
Ichirou Kuga loves to draw manga, but it hardly pays the bills and he’s struggling to look after his two younger siblings. In a Mary Poppins-esque twist of fate, a beautiful woman named Shiori comes to be his new assistant and helps him with his siblings and work.
My Home Hero
My Home Hero has a popular manga backing it, and with a fantastic art style and animation by Tezuka Productions, I think this one’s going to be a heater.
Tetsuo finds out his daughter is being physically abused by her boyfriend, Nobuto, and ends up killing him. Unfortunately, Nobuto was part of a crime syndicate who are now looking for their missing member. It’s up to Tetsuo and his wife to protect their precious daughter from harm.
Skip to Loafer (Skip and Loafer)
A cute romance based on the popular manga of the same name, Skip to Loafer is about a country girl and her big move to Tokyo for university. Overwhelmed by city life, she meets the handsome and laid-back Sousuke, who helps her enjoy her time in Tokyo.
Mahou Shoujo Magical Destroyers (Magical Girl Magical Destroyers)
Set in a future where otaku culture has been completely erased by an organisation named ‘SCC’, it’s up to Otaku Hero and his magical girl followers to restore otaku culture to its former glory.
Kawaisugi Crisis (Too Cute Crisis)
I’ll say it now, I don’t think Kawaisugi Crisis is going to be anything special. But I’m a fan of anime about aliens coming to Earth and having their plans foiled (Urusei Yatsura, Jahy-sama wa Kujikenai).
Liza Luna is an alien who comes to Earth with plans to destroy the planet, but she discovers the best human invention — cat cafes. Earth is saved thanks to our furry friends!
The Marginal Service
Not much is known about this new original anime, but it has naked people, missions, and a talking beaver.
Edomae Elf (Otaku Elf)
Koito Koganei is working as a shrine maiden at Takamimi shrine. Except her work is a little different than what it says in the job description. She needs to look after the shrine’s inhabitant. Elda is an elf living in the shrine, except she hates going outside. She would rather eat snacks and play video games, much to Koito’s dismay.
Tokyo Mew Mew New ♡ 2nd Season
This is definitely my guilty pleasure anime of the season. I’ve always loved Tokyo Mew Mew and while the new adaptation doesn’t have as much charm as the original, it’s still perfect for what it is — a magical girl anime for children.
Rokudou no Onna-tachi (Rokudou’s Girls)
Tousuke Rokudou attends a high school full of delinquents and is constantly bullied. After his grandfather passes away though, he is given a scroll that leaves a strange symbol on his forehead. Tousuke soon finds out that the symbol makes all of the delinquent girls at his school fall in love with him — including the terrifying Ranna Himawari.
This is my list for the Spring 2023 season. Popular series, infamous series, and series that nobody has ever heard of are on my plan to watch list.
Let me know what you’re going to be watching!
There are some wild concepts in this list! My Home Hero sounds like a gripping concept, and Loafer sounds cute.
Noob anime question: is it better to get Crunchyroll or Funimation in Aus? I recall reading about one acquiring the other, but don’t know if that means the services are merged.
Also, I’ve seen a bunch of fan art for Spy X Family - does the anime live up to the hype?