Anime Questions, Recommendations, and Discussion

Anime Questions, Recommendations, and Discussion - January 04, 2026

This is a daily megathread for general chatter about anime. Have questions or need recommendations? Here to show off your merch? Want to talk about what you just watched.

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Voir le contenu lié

Commentaires

One_Bend74232026-01-04 11:37

Today's *place* is a mess. I couldn't live with a messy desktop. And that box of tissues is sus.

lalunafelis2026-01-04 11:54

Not like my own desk isn't. Then again, I make it messy on purpose so I can have easy access to things I need.

Korkez112026-01-04 12:09

I may be wrong but isn't [Liz to Aoi Tori] >!actually *sinks* Nozomi/Mizore ship, not confirms it? Like, they've become too codependent so it's better for them to be just friends and potentially drift apart when they'll grow up!<

IXajll2026-01-04 13:06

The film deliberately doesn’t confirm anything to leave that up to interpretation. What you wrote in your spoilers is one such interpretation/possibility, a valid one, but [Liz]>!them ending up together!< is just as valid and likely of an outcome, and what I personally like to believe will have happened.

With how the story ended in that regard, we only have our own headcanons, for better or worse.

MiLiLeFa2026-01-04 13:31

I never interpreted the relationship as romantic to begin with. In my opinion it's a platonic love.

vancevon2026-01-04 15:03

[eupho] >!Who says people can't be together just because they're codependent? Those kinds of relationships happen all the time. Love doesn't have to be perfect, in fact, I would argue that at least as far as fiction is concerned, it shouldn't be perfect.!<

[cont] >!At any rate, Ayano Takeda said this about whether she plans far ahead when she writes: "Goodness, no. I didn't even dare to think that this series would go on for as long as it did. Writing the first volume, I thought to myself 'there's no need for everything to be explained' and I left many things unresolved and mysterious. I mean, it's not like we can figure out everything about other people in the real world, can we?" So you're free to speculate and imagine their relationship as you see fit.!<

DrJWilson2026-01-04 16:08

I made [a video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zxbf4DjlDg) explaining what I thought if that interests you.

BaytaCosmico2026-01-04 13:16

Ikoku Nikki day! Who else is hyped?! (I'm not even a source reader but I've super high hopes for this somehow)

cppn022026-01-04 13:23

[](#concealedexcitement)

TehAxelius2026-01-04 13:40

[](#rengehype)

IXajll2026-01-04 13:57

[](#excitedyui)

VoidEmbracedWitch2026-01-04 14:28

[soon...](#mugiwait)

Queue_Jumping_Quack2026-01-04 15:40

It is one of the two new seasonal premieres I'm watching today, and of those two definitely the one I'm more optimistic for.

octopathfinder2026-01-04 16:11

[](#sports)

MiLiLeFa2026-01-04 13:32

Me?
Watching a harem?
In this day and age?
[I would never](https://i.imgur.com/oO4fjuI.png).

WebComfortable97482026-01-04 13:50

Всем привет, я в первые в этом предложение😅 пожалуйста можете посоветовать мне аниме похожие на токийские мстители и на ветролом.🙏

mekerpan2026-01-04 14:44

Rokudo's Bad Girls

No-Moose-24602026-01-04 14:04

grrr I wanna watch Kokoro Connect but there’s genuinely no legal way to in Australia. Just wanna watch it on my TV :(

Nachtwandler_FS2026-01-04 15:32

I would have said "go High Seas" but I am not sure you can just record it on TV when.

No-Moose-24602026-01-04 16:02

The more I look for it, the more likely it becomes 😭

qwertyqwerty45672026-01-04 14:27

>you will get new Elaina

*Monkey paw curls*

>But it will be a movie

[](#foldedarms)

Nachtwandler_FS2026-01-04 15:33

Could have been worse, could have been a recap movie. At least it us a new story.

Abysswatcherbel2026-01-04 16:27

it was worth for the [official](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G90judTbsAAsONy.jpg) [visuals](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/G90hlGzaUAEqRwO.png)

Elaina competes with Alya for the best arts for certain demographics

vancevon2026-01-04 15:21

Finished Ao-chan Can't Study, and it was pretty good. I like the premise a lot, both the dirty jokes obviously, but also the whole idea of a character falling in love despite not wanting to. I also like the whole "alright, time to go tell him off!" only to end up falling for him even harder bit. It's very cute.

But idk, both the jokes and the intimate bits didn't hit home quite as much as I would have liked. It was starting to get really good by the end. But then, you know, it ended.

Salty1452026-01-04 16:06

How long do you think the average anime fan has been watching anime? Like, if I sampled *every* person who is (actively) watching anime regularly and asked this question, what do you think the answer would be? The distribution would obviously be skewed, but how much do you think post-COVID starts are pulling up the data set?

Emi_Ibarazakiii2026-01-04 20:00

Like most hobbies, I don't think people in average watch anime religiously for more than a couple years.

Some people probably watch it once in a while, but I don't really consider my brother who watched AoT and Death Note last year to be an "anime fan".

(I also think that a lot of watchers will check out most of the top shows and then quit because "I've watched everything good!")

Salty1452026-01-04 16:17

Maybe the craziest story surrounding an opening theme is when Masashi Ishihama not only made [one of the best OPs of all time](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_F6LD_czS8s) but attached it to not just the aggressively mediocre *Persona 5 the Animation*, but only attached the finished version shown above to the *last episode* and two subsequent specials that serve as the series true ending.

What the fuck?

Quiddity1312026-01-04 17:37

He directed one of my all time favorite anime, Shin Sekai Yori. This OP gives similar vibes in certain moments.

sadclown-_-2026-01-04 16:29

how do you guys feel about Himmel as a character? I kind of like him despite him being pretty generic as far as anime heroes go.

Charmanders_Cock2026-01-04 18:19

Honestly I see him as less of a character and more of a plot device. And I think he works really well as a plot device. He’s the overarching narrative’s anchor, but also isn’t just a goal post like you’d find in too many stories with a definitive end-goal. He’s the crux of Frieren’s character development and acts as a natural pseudo-narrator of sorts.

His existence adds a lot to the story, but like you said, for now there isn’t all that much to him as a character. That’s mostly due to the story’s drip feed nature that he’s a part of. I hope that by the time the story reaches its conclusion that I can see him as a solid character instead of just a plot device though.

Ham_PhD2026-01-04 19:22

He's kinda barely a character in the anime so far. When he is there, he's basically just a typical overly optimistic hero.

Psyduckisnotaduck2026-01-04 22:18

I just like all the memes about him being extremely obvious about his feelings for Frieren, and her just completely missing every single indication.

Abysswatcherbel2026-01-04 16:34

If the staff of Sentence to be a hero for ep 2 is like a saw a guy sharing, than this show was a mess

Reminds of bugfilms, too much ambition, no structure to pull that off, at least here it seems kadokawa gave them money to hire an army to finish the show

Salty1452026-01-04 16:53

Oh God. How bad are we talking here?

Abysswatcherbel2026-01-04 17:09

ep 2 (3~ to give them credit, since the 1st was 1 hour) with like 22 ADs, 100~ KA/2KA, I don't remember the exact numbers now, and I didn't save the post

But anyway this was previously delayed and apparently they finished it already, just needed some MAPPA style brute force and Unlimited Budget Works to pay their way to the finish line

Psyduckisnotaduck2026-01-04 22:16

on the one hand that's terrible, on the other at least it got support to finish properly. The penny pinchers who tanked OPM s3 would have insisted on this show making its original release window.

Salty1452026-01-04 16:37

My friend has committed to watching every show from 2006 that’s under 50 episodes and available for legal streaming (unfortunate). *Futari wa Precure: Splash Star* is 49 episodes and on Crunchyroll.

This fool has played right into my trap.

soracte2026-01-04 16:50

Your friend has left the power of excitement to you.

Infodump_Ibis2026-01-04 17:06

There's a challenge which benefits from CR letting the **Ah! My Goddess: Flights of Fancy** and **School Rumble** licenses expire.

(checking livechart) On the other hand they need HIDIVE for exactly one show: **Gargoyle of Yoshinaga House**.

vancevon2026-01-04 18:03

You mean you've trapped your friend into watching some actually good anime for once?

Salty1452026-01-04 18:07

Self-inflicted wound. He came up with it (likely not understanding the actual scale of the project) and I’m just here to make he sticks with it.

Under those conditions, I probably could jump on with limited change to my own plans. Most of the biggest titles, I’ve already cleared off, since I watch an ungodly amount of anime as is.

baquea2026-01-04 21:29

Haha, I've been thinking of doing the same myself for 2007 (but with the conditions instead being 26 episodes or under, sequels excluded, and drops allowed). Haven't really made much progress yet though, and considering how scattershot my anime watching tends to be I kinda doubt I will ever properly commit to it.

schultenskili2026-01-04 16:44

„How“ do people in Japan consume anime?

For me and I assume for most westerners it‘s been an evolution from watching what Anime was shown on TV (Cue „Pokito“ for my fellow Germans), switching to DVD box sets and/or dubious streaming portals afterwards. Nowadays, it’s mostly a streaming ordeal, like with most other serialised TV shows.

How are things in Japan though? Is anime still broadcast mainly in linear television or have things als switched to the streaming age?

And if so, are the platforms the same, say the Crunchyrolls, Netflix‘s, and Amazon Primes of this world, or are other streaming platforms present, say offshoots of the networks or direct distribution from the studios?

_Ridley2026-01-04 17:20

What percentage of the people in the karma chart thread excitedly cheering the gay bath scene sweep from Watanare will be watching Bean Counter? Zero? One percent?

vancevon2026-01-04 17:27

are you saying that bean counter has a gay bath scene?

_Ridley2026-01-04 17:34

I think it does.

Dull_Spot_82132026-01-04 20:37

Maybe this is what I need to get into iseikai.

VoidEmbracedWitch2026-01-04 17:34

No idea, but I would be part of that percentage if I looked at karma chart threads

[](#yuristare)[](#yoihug)

_Ridley2026-01-04 17:44

I mean, I will watch both too, but I bet half these guys gushing about how gay Watanare is would call you a slur if you asked if they watched BL.

awesomenessofme12026-01-04 19:34

Is that supposed to be a meaningful comparison? Like, yeah, a lot of straight dudes enjoy yuri ecchi. That has zero correlation to BL.

_Ridley2026-01-04 19:41

Obviously I'm rolling my eyes at them acting like they're into it for being gay and not because it's two girls doing sexy things together.

awesomenessofme12026-01-04 19:46

I just went and looked at the thread in question, and you're massively exaggerating things. There are only a handful of comments along those lines, and all of them seem tongue-in-cheek rather than patting themselves on the back.

_Ridley2026-01-04 20:08

Sure Jan.

ComfortablyRotten2026-01-04 19:55

I'm not in the karma chart thread but I'd be part of that percentage too [](#loliwave "can't promise I'd keep it though, my bias against isekai is like really strong")

Though I wouldn't have been able tell if this was about homophobes fetishizing lesbians or just yuri fans overall had you not mentioned it below. A certain side of Twitter would call you a lesbophobic misogynist for even considering watching BL, even if it were written by Sappho herself [](#azusalaugh)

_Ridley2026-01-04 20:14

> A certain side of Twitter would call you a lesbophobic misogynist

They certainly would. I probably should've kept this thought to bluesky. Oh well.

Nachtwandler_FS2026-01-04 20:23

It is normal for people to like one specific genre and do not like it's counterpart. Why making a drama about it?

zairaner2026-01-04 20:37

I had planned to give it a try.

But I really imagined something more optimistic, less bitter when you said you would make this show your personality when it comes out.

_Ridley2026-01-04 20:53

I don't see them in competition with each other, and I enjoy Watanare myself. It's just funny to see a thread full of people excited for one kind of queer show who wouldn't be caught dead watching the other kind. If fujoshis had a tendency to talk shit about or wholly ignore yuri, I'd make fun of them too, but they give me the best yuri recommendations, so.

Psyduckisnotaduck2026-01-04 22:11

I feel a bit guilty being a yuri diehard that doesn't really care for yaoi. that being said, I'll probably check out the first episode of Bean Counter. I'm just wary of toxic dynamics, so if the ship is positive or at least spicy in a novel way, I might be onboard. look I'm a total LGBT supporter, non-binary identifying and bisexual, but like, I almost always prefer there to be at least one girl involved in a romance. I fully admit this may not be the most defensible of biases.

IXajll2026-01-04 17:34

Goddamn, I had **Ikoku Nikki** in my top 3 likeliest candidates for AOTS, but it might already have the thing in the bag 1 episode in lol. Exceeded even my already high expectations. Every aspect was just fantastically executed. Love the visual direction. The dialogue to me felt extremely well written, like even usually mundane scenes such as the breakfast one were somehow super engaging and perfectly delivered. The VAs are impeccably chosen as well, Sawashiro elevates anything she works on anyway, but Asa‘s VA fits her character extremely well just the same. And she’s somehow a complete newcomer, damn impressive performance for that. Even more „under the radar“ aspects such as the sound design made an impact, like small but effective details like the ticking clock or when Asa woke up and walked into the living room, you could hear a faint sound of a moped or motorcycle driving by outside. They could have just *not* added that and people wouldn‘t complain, but tiny details like this do so much to make the show‘s world feel more alive. The OP was fucking amazing as well, both song and visuals, already easy OP of the season contender. Last, but definitely not least, the OST. Kensuke Ushio doing phenomenal work as usual, the soft piano tracks added so much to the atmosphere and vibes, fucking love it.

Done glazing for now, but damn, what a show.

cppn022026-01-04 18:16

Episode 1 was excellent. Definitely more than met my high expectations.

BaytaCosmico2026-01-04 18:20

I went into this with high hopes and they were all met and then some. Sunday nights are going to involve a lot of sighing but happy ones, but also melancholy. How is this so good?

DeadCaveman2026-01-04 22:20

Yeah, it's the first show of the new season for me and it's gonna be a tough act to follow. Really beautiful stuff.

AmethystItalian2026-01-04 18:05

I haven't been around too much lately but hoping to get back into the swing of things this season!

For 2025 though, I've finally posted my [2025 Amewards](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1q3v2i8/2025_amewards_best_anime_of_the_year/?) for anyone that wants to take a look!

Could sadly be my last year doing it!

[](#toradorasalute)

Heda-of-Aincrad2026-01-04 18:14

Glad you were able to find time for this! I'll read it in more detail later but it looks like several of the shows I enjoyed this year (Blue Box, Fragrant Flower, even Lazarus) made the list.

AmethystItalian2026-01-04 18:20

> even Lazarus

I missed a lot of the dialogue for this one so was a shame to see it not so well liked my folks

And yeah...just had enough time to squeeze it out but still much later than typically has been!

Heda-of-Aincrad2026-01-04 19:57

Probably for the best that you missed the Lazarus discussions. I was watching a few weeks late, but from what I heard, there was a lot of negativity in the episode threads. It was one of my favorites from the year though!

> still much later than typically has been!

Still earlier than every other anime awards. [](#kannathumbs)

cppn022026-01-04 18:40

Happy to hear to still found the time to do this.

AmethystItalian2026-01-04 18:41

With how hard it was to fit this year I don't see myself being able to do it next year, not at this capacity at least, but we'll see!

qwertyqwerty45672026-01-04 19:13

Rat shit 2025 edition!

[](#concealedexcitement)

AmethystItalian2026-01-04 19:17

Thankfully we're not going down that path again lmao

Shimmering-Sky2026-01-04 19:21

I still see Rat Shit Guy in threads every now and then, and it always gives me a laugh when I do. God, what a hilariously baffling situation that was last year.

cppn022026-01-04 19:30

> I still see Rat Shit Guy in threads every now and then, and it always gives me a laugh when I do

[Same lol.](https://i.imgur.com/gR6MTGX.png)

I think I actually saw them just today or yesterday in some thread.

cppn022026-01-04 19:30

You never know.

AmethystItalian2026-01-04 19:32

We better not!

[](#modabuse)

Wanderingjoke2026-01-04 19:18

Your top three are great choices! Also mostly agree with your bottom choice. Though I watched some shows I rated worse, they didn't have the potential that one did.

AmethystItalian2026-01-04 19:21

Woo glad to hear an approved top 3!

[](#woo)

And yeah maybe part of my dislike for my worst is that it felt it could have been a lot better.

Wanderingjoke2026-01-04 19:51

Shows with potential are almost alway worse.

Though I still may have to string you up for that worst sports pick. (And I would've put it in the SoL category instead.)

AmethystItalian2026-01-04 19:52

I still gave it a 7!

Was just sadly the only other sports show I watched lol

Heda-of-Aincrad2026-01-04 18:11

Today's place is one of my childhood faves, Digimon Adventure!

[](#anko)

I just rewatched it last year, and I'm planning to watch Adventure 2 again soon. Then I'll be checking out Tri for the first time.

Psyduckisnotaduck2026-01-04 21:43

btw Digimon Beatbreak is pretty good. though it interestingly pivots more towards 'humans are the real monsters' and has an undercurrent of treating Digimon as sentient beings that, regardless of origin, have the right to exist. plus worldbuilding featuring extreme income inequality and ensuing 'crabs-in-a-bucket' mentality among people with ambitions, government corruption and cover-ups, and parental abuse (kinda glad that plotline's not from a main character or the series would get TOO heavy). the heroes are kind of scrappy working class underdogs (well, one of them's a former rich boy who gave up everything for his Digimon's sake).

Heda-of-Aincrad2026-01-04 22:14

Nice! I'm waiting for the English dub before watching.

Psyduckisnotaduck2026-01-04 22:29

the good news is that I've seen clips posted from the dub on Youtube and it's both quite good and the actors try their best to bring a very similar energy to their roles to the Japanese voice actors. the dub actor for the main character is particularly good.

Heda-of-Aincrad2026-01-04 22:34

That's great news. I didn't know it was far enough along that they started posting clips. I'll have to check that out later!

thisisdropd2026-01-04 18:12

Just finished the 5-episode Sunday marathon, all thanks to Hana-Kimi & Kunon the Sorcerer both having a double premiere. They'll be back to the usual schedule next week but on the other hand, 4 new shows will start airing next week.

Never have Sundays been this jam packed before for me. Saturdays are usually the busiest but it has been eclipsed this season.

awesomenessofme12026-01-04 19:31

I actually had to tap out of anything new on Saturdays once I hit 6 on my planned list, and there are at least two more I was curious about. Only 3 on Sunday, which is the second most of the season but still manageable.

RascalNikov12026-01-04 18:17

Who’s that young witch getting a movie?

Yup, it’s Elaina!

https://myanimelist.net/news/73683907

Charmanders_Cock2026-01-04 18:35

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how the recent theatrical success of anime movies will probably lead to way more of them being produced. At first the idea sort of bugged me, because it means series getting chopped up, waiting longer for things to reach streaming, and the reenforcement of high-returns being the most relevant factor to producers and studios.

The more I think about it though, the more I think a shift toward more movies and less series might not be that bad if you consider the industry at large. The lack of labor, the awful working conditions, and the general over-saturation in terms of sheer quantity could all be alleviated to a large degree by having more studios focus on producing films.

I also don’t know enough to really say that though. I wonder what the conditions for animators/studios looks like for a film production versus a series production. My gut instinct is that the workload is less stressful because there’s simply less to produce in any given period of time, but there’s also the expectation/demand for higher production quality as a result.

Interested if anyone else has thoughts on this.

IXajll2026-01-04 18:46

Tbh I wouldn’t really mind more movies getting made as long as they‘d come out at a cinema near me within 1-2 months of the JP release. Since that is currently only the case for the big shounen films, I‘m not entirely a fan of this possible uptick in movies.

Emi_Ibarazakiii2026-01-04 19:29

> Interested if anyone else has thoughts on this.

Someone better create r/animeboxoffice so people don't fill up the entire fucking frontpage with hourly updates on ticket sales.

[](#urbansmile)

Other than that, yeah my main concern is that movies tend to be available later in the West (compared to series that are available at the same time or close), which sucks.

Heda-of-Aincrad2026-01-04 20:10

> my main concern is that movies tend to be available later in the West (compared to series that are available at the same time or close), which sucks.

Some of them don't get official streams at all, which sucks even more.

[](#itsnotfair)

Emi_Ibarazakiii2026-01-04 19:50

(reply #2)

One more thing I don't like about anime movies, is the lack of hype/engagement/discussion in the community.

Even when massive ones like Reze or Demon Slayer happen, the discussion is almost non-existent a day after it happens... (Other than box office shit).

I like discussing anime, the hype it generates over a full season (and not just 1 or 2 days), etc.

As for the working conditions: Not to be insensitive, but it's not my main concern as an anime fan... Yeah I do want them (and everyone else) to have good working conditions, but it's not really something that's on top of my mind while I'm watching anime, like if I'm at the movies watching something I'm not gonna be thinking "I'm so glad the people working on this had shorter work shifts!"...

Just like people who drink slave-produced coffee probably don't think about the horrible working conditions of the people who made it, everytime they made a sip.

I also don't want the product to change drastically for this in mind...

Because if as anime fans that's our one and only goal, then let's just go with AI produced anime that will require a lot less human work, and sure it will ruin the product but the employees will have it easy at least...

zairaner2026-01-04 20:19

Yes this!

God I waited 3-4 years to see the reactions to the next part of chainsaw man....if they turn this into movie I will die

ZaphodBeebblebrox2026-01-04 20:48

> The ... awful working conditions ... could ... be alleviated to a large degree by having more studios focus on producing films.

May I ask why you believe this? I don't see why making more movies would stop these companies from overworking their employees/contractors, or why it would stop them from paying as little as they can get away with.

If, generally speaking, the pipeline for studios that primarily produce films is currently better for animators than the pipeline for studios that primarily produce TV anime, I don't see why a bunch of TV studios making more movies would change that. They'd likely work on the same general timetables and with the same processes they typically use, no?

Sensitive-Tap20902026-01-04 18:41

Hello! Super Frustrated. Can anyone help me?

So I started to look for some genuine anime apparel and figures etc..

I couldn’t find any sites that were trustworthy enough. I started to get a lot of ads on Instagram as well but they’re so clearly a scam.

Does anyone have any sites that are super trustworthy? Seen so many where people have been disappointed.

I’ve looked on ‘Crunchyroll Store’ super trustworthy but it’s $44 for shipping and cannot see myself spending that much on shipping. (I’m from Australia if that helps)

Any suggestions? Thank you in advance

KendotsX2026-01-04 19:19

Have you tried [Kaika?](https://www.kaika.com.au/products/) They sell both figures and apparel, with a decently wide scope.

Sensitive-Tap20902026-01-04 19:26

I haven’t actually, I looked up a few paces but it didn’t show up. Thank you! Will have a look!

KendotsX2026-01-04 19:27

I hope you'll find something to your taste!

H-Ryougi2026-01-04 20:29

AmiAmi

Ocixo2026-01-04 21:17

If they’re getting any clothes and/or figures with a bit of weight, shipping from Japan is unfortunately bound to get rather pricey (I know from experience).

Import taxes usually aren’t mild either, but maybe AUS is a bit more forgiving than the EU in this regard.

Emi_Ibarazakiii2026-01-04 19:22

Multi-episode premieres, the bane of FOMO watchers.

[](#panic)

(Well, I kinda expect to drop them all except the Part-time Torturer one, but still!)

(Also, any mangaka out there: Whoever writes a female-cast version of this anime, I'm awarding you the Pulitzer or the Nobel Prize of Peace or any other award you may want)

[](#towel)

Ham_PhD2026-01-04 19:24

This place is the Digimon movie, right? One of the pillars of my childhood. Omnimon was the king of cool to me back then. Probably my favorite toy when I was a kid.

awesomenessofme12026-01-04 19:26

It's a little late, but I'm finally getting around to making a ranking list of non-sequel 2025 anime.

A:
Lord of Mysteries
Medalist
A-:
Anne Shirley
City the Animation
Sanda
Zenshu
B+:
Clevatess
Leviathan
May I Ask for One Final Thing?
Secrets of the Silent Witch
Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider
B:
Dealing with Mikadono Sisters is a Breeze
Gachiakuta
Mono
Sakamoto Days
The Red Ranger Becomes an Adventurer in Another World
Witch Watch
B-:
A Star Brighter than the Sun
Honey Lemon Soda
Wandance (for now)
C+:
Gnosia (for now)
I May Be a Guild Receptionist, but I'll Solo Any Boss to Clock Out on Time!
Pass the Monster Meat, Milady!
C:
Ameku M.D.: Doctor Detective
Milky Subway: The Galactic Limited Express
Once Upon a Witch's Death
The Water Magician
D+:
Medaka Kuroiwa is Impervious to My Charms
D:
Makina-san's a Love Bot?!
F:
Possibly the Greatest Alchemist of All Time (dropped)

The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity has a score of "screw you, Netflix", and while there are still a handful I have left to watch, I figure since those won't actually be watched in 2025, it's not quite the same. I don't think there are any massive hot takes here, but there's one placement I'm sure people will get mad at for some reason.

neighmeansno2026-01-04 23:40

It's a shame that an otherwise very reasonable list is completely invalidated by the very first entry.

awesomenessofme12026-01-04 23:41

Because it's bad or because you're a stickler for the anime definition?

neighmeansno2026-01-05 03:22

Honestly both.

Salty1452026-01-04 19:44

So what happened in the J-Pop world where Tomoo went from no anime songs to 4 within a year? It’s not like she’s brand new either. AniList says she’s been active since 2014.

And what a line-up of series too. *Blue Box, City the Animation, Journal with Witch*, and *High School! Kimengumi* (2026). That’s a roster I can get behind.

OmegaVirgin942026-01-04 19:57

Looking at [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tomoo_$singer$). She didn't get signed to a major label until 2022 and her first album didn't come out until Sept. 2023. Being featured in an anime less than 18 months later is pretty good pace for someone that isn't an industry plant.

Salty1452026-01-04 20:47

Ah. I see. Makes sense and I’m certainly not complaining.

Emi_Ibarazakiii2026-01-04 20:15

My MAL isn't properly updated so there might be a 'small sample size' issue here, but [my MAL wrap-up had interesting results...](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/517bfe675d0b.png)

(I didn't even understand how I could have Music at #4, didn't even remember watching any music anime, but I checked it out and saw Rock Ladies, Karaoke Iko, etc..)

(As for Isekai at #8, this is just me not changing a bunch of Isekai from "watching" to "dropped" hah).

OmegaVirgin942026-01-04 20:30

Music was my #4 in the top 0.9% and all I watched was Macross Frontier which is 25 episodes.

qwertyqwerty45672026-01-04 20:44

I don't think I updated my mal a single time this year, it will be a pain to do

[](#foldedarms)

Ocixo2026-01-04 20:57

I update my MAL almost every day, but I didn’t expect it to be so scarily accurate of my taste in anime:

> Genre Bias:
>
> 1. Seinen (Top 0,2%)
> 2. Slice of Life (Top 2%)
> 3. Adult Cast (Top 4%)
> 4. Romance (Top 4%)
> 5. Shoujo (Top 6%)

> Genre Deviant:
>
> 1. Action (Bottom 0,4%)
> 2. Supernatural (Bottom 0,5%)
> 3. Shounen (Bottom 0,7%)
> 4. Adventure (Bottom 3%)
> 5. Isekai (Bottom 3%)

^(You can probably make an educated guess which three anime were in my “Hot Takes” section based on this. [Answer:] >!Solo Leveling, Gachiakuta and Kaiju No.8!<)

Syokhan2026-01-04 22:03

Mine had "crossdressing" as #1 bias (top 0.3%) which made me laugh 'cause I watched exactly one (1) anime that fits that category. Okay?

fakegreenthumb2026-01-04 20:23

rewatching and i really appreciate the terrible puns izuki makes in kurokos basketball [kuroko ep 5] >!like “ko no steak (ステーキ), suteki” i think about this one at least once a week!<

M4RL3YZ2026-01-04 21:31

I watch anime now for a year and love it but i want to watch an anime with my wife that doesnt like anime. Does someone know a good anime to watch. Also to get her to love anime.

She like romance and stuff like that. Little action.

theangryeditor2026-01-04 21:32

>this is the place

[it's been **ONE WEEK**](#micdrop)

theangryeditor2026-01-04 21:34

There's nothing from this season that I want to pick up at a glance. I only have Frieren and Medalist at the moment and I didn't even like Medalist's first season all that much.

There are a few titles I'm open to so I'll probably check those out if word of mouth piques my interest.

Heda-of-Aincrad2026-01-04 21:44

I've posted [a summary of my favorite shows watched last year](https://old.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1q3ya45/what_have_you_watched_this_past_week_that_is_not/nxot8ty/) over in the weekly "what have you watched" thread, a mix of backlog shows and new ones from 2025. Plenty of good stuff, and I'm hoping the series I picked for this year turn out just as well!

entelechtual2026-01-04 22:00

I’ve started to catch up on the Winter 2026 shows and so far a lot of shows haven’t really caught my attention. But Tamon’s B-Side definitely stands out. It’s reminding me of VTuber Legend with the intense main character personality and voice acting. Hayamin is making up for [the last character](https://myanimelist.net/anime/49692) she played in an anime about an ordinary girl that unexpectedly enters a monetary relationship with a male idol. And I’d never have guessed it was a shoujo if I hadn’t seen people talking about it.

BiggieCheeseLapDog2026-01-04 23:28

>It’s reminding me of Vtuber Legend

Say no more I’m sold

Abysswatcherbel2026-01-05 02:25

>It’s reminding me of VTuber Legend with the intense main character personality and voice acting.

Oh god, perfect pitch

>Hayamin

Nevermind...

GondolaMedia2026-01-04 22:16

So I wasn't sure why everyone here was hyping Ikoku Nikki but I just finished the premiere and I finally understand the hype.

This season is done, we have our AOTS.

TehAxelius2026-01-04 22:34

[](#cinema)

Psyduckisnotaduck2026-01-04 22:27

okay, before I fully pivot to focusing on Winter 2026 seasonals, I kinda wanted to round out my 2025 anime watching. I don't need recommendations per se because I'm a weird autist with a lot of lists compiled. But if anyone cares to do so I'd love to see them make a case for which one or two of the following I should prioritize. The fact that these are on this list means I'm willing to entertain watching any of them, I am just having motivation issues.

* Tasokare Hotel
* Once Upon a Witch's Death
* Shoushimin Series (would have to finish s1 and then watch s2)
* I Have a Crush at Work
* Catch Me at the Ballpark
* Tojima Tanzaburou wants to be a Kamen Rider
* Toilet Bound Hanako-kun s2
* Sorairo Utility
* MSG-G-Quacks
* NinKoro
* Sakamoto Days (watched 5 episodes and wasn't impressed but didn't hate it either)
* My Happy Marriage s2
* Anne Shirley
* Summer Pockets
* Sword of the Demon Hunter
* Necronomico and the Cosmic Horror Show
* MHA Vigilantes
* With You Our Love will Make It Through

_Ridley2026-01-05 03:33

Shoshimin S2 was a fantastic culmination of everything laid out in S1. Meticulous attention to detail, delightfully moody cinematography, and excellent voice acting. I didn't love S1, but S2 grabbed me by the throat.

Hanako-kun delivered two emotional cours of anime with lots of character development and background reveals. Even better than S1.

With You, Our Love Will Make It Through is a rare romance with some genuine spice to it. These kids are hot for each other, and it's so nice to genuine chemistry on screen. The friendships are super cute too.

Emi_Ibarazakiii2026-01-05 05:32

Excellent:

- NinKoro

Good stuff:

- Tasokare Hotel
- Catch Me at the Ballpark

Fine:

- Sakamoto Days
- Summer Pockets

oedipusrex3762026-01-04 22:35

**The Holy Grail of Eris**

This post is basically me unloading all my thoughts on the upcoming adaptation.

This is easily my most anticipated anime in a long time. The Light Novel was a total page-turner, and it’s hard to overstate how much this series means to me. Over the years, there are only a handful of series/anime I’ve personally handpicked as 10/10s. Shows I strongly identify with, each for different reasons and strengths. And The Holy Grail of Eris is one of those series. [The list.](https://imgur.com/a/list-f2wmd4a)

So what’s The Holy Grail of Eris about? It’s a **mystery thriller centered on noble society**, revolving around the death of **Scarlett Castiel**. **Connie** (Constance Grace) is the protagonist. She has little connection to the Castiels or their world, but after encountering Scarlett’s ghost, the two end up spiraling deep into the truth behind her death. Despite the villainess label, this isn’t an angsty story. From the very start, it plays things straight. It’s a **brutal, serious thriller** with real stakes. In terms of tone, it feels closer to Princess Principal wrapped in an otome aesthetic. That said, and without spoiling anything, the series is more emotional than you might expect esp for a serious thriller genre.

A huge part of the series’ appeal is the cast. Scarlett embodies the villainess archetype. She’s unapologetic and unfiltered. She’s a proud, arrogant noble who carries herself with dignity, and a lot of her dialogue reflects that. That’s a big part of her appeal, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of people find her instantly likable esp given how perfect she is (I’m getting ahead of myself). Aside from that, the characters are integrated organically, and the moments when they get to shine also feel organic. The way characters enter, exit, and later re-enter the story feels dynamic, as if the author put real thought into when and how to deploy them. I honestly think the cast will be one of the biggest hooks for most viewers.

Plot structure-wise, it’s a linear, non-episodic story, very much in the same vein as Yatagarasu. If you’re looking for a focused mystery that commits fully to its core plot, this is exactly that.

**About the adaptation**

The Holy Grail of Eris has both a Light Novel and a Manga. The LN is the original source and the manga adapts the LN very faithfully but is a bit behind. We’re most likely looking at a 1 cour 12-episode adaptation that covers the LN’s main storyline (LN Vol 1-3), specifically the entire mystery surrounding Scarlett Castiel. This more or less counts as a “full adaptation” of the core mystery plot.

Twelve episodes does sound tight given how dense each volume is, but it *could* work. Early impressions from advance screenings mentioned that the pacing is roughly 1+ manga volume per episode. It’s a little fast, but manageable though just barely.

oedipusrex3762026-01-04 22:35

**The director: Morita to Junpei**

Morita isn’t a director who works exclusively in anime. He’s more of a multimedia creator, with experience across anime, film, and stage plays, often writing and directing his own work. He has written and directed several stage plays, including adaptations of his own original work **Lost Song**. His most recent stage project was Nocturne Boogie in 2024, which also seems to be his last major work before moving into anime production for The Holy Grail of Eris.

One of the best ways to get a read on a director’s strengths is through their original anime, where they can showcase their skills with more creative control. Think of Shingo Natsume with Sonny Boy, Tomohiro Furukawa with Revue Starlight, Ikuhara with Revolutionary Girl Utena, or Junichi Saito with Tamayura. In Morita’s case, that project is **Lost Song**.

Morita was the original creator, director, and series composer of **Lost Song**, and the show…. was pretty good. The animation is serviceable at best, but the writing is much stronger than I expected. The plot feels like a JRPG story like Final Fantasy X. The first half doesn’t immediately leave a strong impression, but I could tell early on that the show had something planned for its second half. Once episode 7 happens, things start escalating quickly. The story takes a surprisingly heavy turn in the middle instead of saving everything for the finale, which makes the overall story feel more consistent. In hindsight, the early episodes work better once you realize they’re quietly setting up later payoffs.

There’s also a tearjerker plot (this will come up later in discussion) involving the MC’s adoptive grandfather that really got to me. It reminded me a lot of the emotional impact of the grandmother scene in When Marnie Was There. The ending also lands which isn’t always a given for original anime.

What really stood out to me though, is how many parallels I started noticing between Lost Song and The Holy Grail of Eris. Both follow a linear, non-episodic structure, and there are even some overlapping plot points. It wouldn’t surprise me if Morita himself pitched the idea for the Eris adaptation.

Lost Song isn’t perfect. It’s rough around the edges esp visually, but it was generally well received. Personally, I’d give the writing an 8.5/10 and the animation around a 6/10. Averaged out, that’s roughly a 7.3, but because it was so engaging I gave it an 8/10 on MAL.

After Lost Song, I’m a lot more confident in Morita’s ability as a director. He’s proven he can handle a concise, linear story with emotional weight, which is exactly what The Holy Grail of Eris needs. If there’s one thing I really hope he gets right, it’s two of my favorite scenes from Eris, esp one that’s an absolute tearjerker.

**Final thoughts**

No matter how the adaptation turns out, I’ll still change my profile picture every week while it’s airing and make this show my entire personality for the entire season. I’m also fully planning to submit weekly banners for The Holy Grail of Eris, even if that’s probably wishful thinking given the odds of it cracking the top 30.

BaytaCosmico2026-01-04 23:52

You've convinced me to at least give this a try. Wasn't even in my list for this season to begin with but I'll check it out for sure now.

oedipusrex3762026-01-05 02:15

While I can’t guarantee the anime will be good since I haven’t seen it myself, I’d say it’s worth giving it a shot when it airs esp if you're a big fan of mystery and thriller.

Wanderingjoke2026-01-04 22:56

Did Plus-Sized Misadventures really introduce a new character in the post-credit scene of the last episode?! Rude!

soulreaverdan2026-01-05 08:19

Rokka did this back in the day as well. And then never got another season. And the author never finished the books.

Pain.

Shimmering-Sky2026-01-04 23:01

[Posted my interest thread for a Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun rewatch if anyone here's interested!](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1q42yms/interest_thread_for_a_welcome_to_demon_school/)

Wanderingjoke2026-01-04 23:07

[Mangaka ep 13] >!The shippers must've really enjoyed this intro, with Sato insisting on meeting the parents.!<

[Edit] >![The staff are in on it](https://i.imgur.com/J5VNUwI.jpeg)!!<

mekerpan2026-01-05 00:29

A triumph of an episode and a season!

QbitWalker2026-01-04 23:52

Hey everyone,

I don't watch anime, not my cup of tea anymore I use to back in my freshman year of HS when I use to hear people about talk crazy fight sequence and so which intrigued me a lot so started watching them but it was short lived cuz u just lost interest, i believe it can be fun to watch ONLY when doem in moderation. Have been hearing about theis anime a LOT lately which u believe it's quite huge and I will admit even tho I haven't seen anything at all, it just looks great and one other reason I am contemplating to watch it is cuz I recently started watching One Punch Man S3 too which I guess pulled me again into anime, so yeah here I am, how is the anime, something that might suit me perhaps?

Dull_Spot_82132026-01-05 00:09

First impression of Ikoku Nikki: this is going to be one of the best written shows of the season.

mekerpan2026-01-05 00:28

Possibly best in pretty much every respect (except "action").

Dull_Spot_82132026-01-05 00:56

The aunt is my favorite already.

mekerpan2026-01-05 01:11

Basically my godmother (but with worse social skills). She loved all my siblings, but I was her only " child". I would stay with her during (shortish) college vacations. She's been gone for 40 years. It helps make watching this so emotionally powerful.

BaytaCosmico2026-01-05 00:10

Woke up to pee in the middle of the night and decided to watch Hell's Paradise episode 8 (for the first time) since it was almost time for the rewatch thread to go up. Now I'm all cried out and wide awake. What a way to start the week.

I did not expect such a sucker punch from this show but my god, it keeps surprising me. Why isn't this celebrated more? Like I've heard it mentioned in passing but never as a must watch anime. And I truly feel it is, unless it drops off significantly from this point on.

But no, I can't believe it will. Just in 8 episodes, it's done so much so well. Very very glad I got on board this rewatch. Haven't even finished season 1 but I'm super hyped for the second season already.

bandannadann2026-01-05 00:23

>Why isn't this celebrated more?

It was a [pretty enormous show in its season](https://myanimelist.net/anime/season/2023/spring), only trailing behind Demon Slayer and Oshi no Ko. It had an enormous presence on Crunchyroll then and it will again this season, too. Don't worry, it's very popular! But I do think it will get overshadowed again somewhat, this time by Frieren and Jujutsu Kaisen.

Muted-Conference29002026-01-05 06:41

Plus it's like the 3rd most popular show on Anilist and 2nd most popular on MAL this season. I would say it's pretty damn popular.

bandannadann2026-01-05 06:51

Yup! JJK will certainly pass it on MAL, but after that it'll be a battle for third place with Oshi no Ko S3 and apparently Sentenced to be a Hero

BaytaCosmico2026-01-05 10:16

I was just going by how often I've seen it mentioned as a good show worth watching. Good to know it was in fact well received despite the production issues. Hoping for S2 to do well and be free from those issues.

Shimmering-Sky2026-01-05 00:23

> Why isn't this celebrated more?

You're probably watching a BD version of the show. The TV broadcast was a bit of a mess, which always hurts a show's popularity no matter how good they end up being outside of that/if they get fixed later on.

[](#cantbehelped)

BaytaCosmico2026-01-05 10:14

Ah yeah, that makes sense. Hope S2 fares better on that front. Would be a shame to drop the ball after actually getting a renewal.

Donnie-G2026-01-05 10:02

I thought it was just 'fine'.

I really enjoyed the manga though, but the anime doesn't feel like it does 'more'. Heck, the animation/frame quality is kinda shoddy at times in fact - so when compared to the manga's detailed art, it feels like a downgrade even.

But maybe because I already read the manga that I have higher standards for what I consider to be spending time to re-experience something. Like it better offer a lot more or why should I double dip?

I'm also kinda surprised they are even making a second season. MAPPA does sometimes just.... leave things hanging. For many years(Dorohedoro ahem). To the point I'm not sure if they will even keep going!

Too bad the mangaka's following manga got shitcanned super early, though that work did have issues. I wish the guy better luck for his next work.

BaytaCosmico2026-01-05 10:13

Seems like the animation quality was an issue when it aired and manga readers being put off by that makes sense. Not being a source reader, the writing carries a lot of this anime for me, plus I'm seemingly watching the improved BD release.

Hope they've got the production issues sorted for season 2 and do a better job from the get go.

Salty1452026-01-05 00:10

*Lupin the Third* is one of those franchise that I really want to like more than I do. I love the characters and the series conceptually, and when it works it really works with *Lupin the Third: Part II* and *The Woman Called Fujiko Mine* being two of my favorite pieces of television to date.

But, regrettably, the franchise seems to miss a lot more than it hits, and the conclusion to Koike’s involvement with the franchise, *Lupin the IIrd: The Immortal Bloodline* kinda falls into that camp itself. The whole ~~trilogy~~ quadrilogy of films leading up to this one had their own issues, and they kind of ending up manifesting here as well. While I do like what Koike has done with the setting and having a grittier Lupin more in line with the original series, for a conclusion to this little experiment, the film remarkably does little of that, ending on a point that feels remarkably like it’s saying “put a pin in that”. Beyond that, the production is kinda iffy. A lot of the better cuts are obscured with a shaky camera and the CGI and digital effects take away from an aesthetic that really should trust itself more (or find the resources to make work). There’s a few weird editing bits here and there with scene transitions, and the resolution lacks the kind of theatrics I want from… well… theatrical *Lupin*. There are a few interesting themes it touches on, but never presses to a satisfying degree, and leaves me with a lot more notes than I’d like walking out of the theater.

Overall though, I can’t really hate *Lupin* too harshly. When the film clicks, it does so pretty decently, and I’ll never turn down an opportunity to see my favorite quintet in all of anime up to their usual antics, but that’s me being maybe a bit too much of a fanboy and I don’t think it’s anything that someone unfamiliar with the franchise should maybe go out of their way to find (when you can spend that time watching *The Woman Called Fujiko Mine* anyway).

6/10.

Fujiko is still wife material. I can totally fix her, or get robbed blind trying.

Nomar_952026-01-05 00:23

Is the movie Lupin-centric in the way that the other films were focused on their respective characters, or is it just about the overarching plot with [light spoilers] >!Mamo!<?

Disappointing to hear that it's a miss.

Salty1452026-01-05 01:02

There some very light rumiantions on the legacy of *Lupin* and whether the world would be better off without him, but it’s kind of in the same way that *Precure All Stars F* asks the question of what even makes a Precure a Precure: it’s sort of there, but isn’t as much a focus of the film as you’d want it to be.

[Lightish spoilers I guess]>!Mamo seems like a good way to tie everything together, but he just… kinda exists in the movie. They set him up as the big bad behind everything, but the focus stays on what amounts to a mini-boss in the grand scheme of things!<. Which is *really* weird given that Koike has said this is where his involvement where the franchise ends, and that he hopes someone picks up the mantle (which in practice translates to [mild spoilers]>!finish the story lol!<).

It is a movie that gets you thinking about where *Lupin* as a franchise is at from a meta standpoint, but less because the film asks these questions and more because it left me with the sense that this film should have been better than it was.

cosmiczar2026-01-05 01:38

I haven't watched the movie (of course, not from a country that gets theatrical screenings for anything that isn't a big battle shounen), but what you said in the second paragraph doesn't feel like an actual problem based on what I expected/things Koike implied [Lupin stuff] >!that those movies are pretty much just prequels to the already existing Mystery of Mamo. A sequel won't be made because the end of the story already exists!<

Once again, I haven't watched it so maybe the way Immortal Bloodline is doesn't fully work as [Lupin stuff] >!a prequel to Mystery of Mamo as it exists!< but I certainly not surprised that's what it tried to do

Salty1452026-01-05 02:02

It’s been a while since I watched [light spoilers]>!*The Secret of Mamo*, so maybe it does work as a prequel, but that’s still such a strange thing to use four movies to build up. I get that the *Lupin the IIrd* sub-series is more a prequel to the original *Lupin the Third*, but it seems a little odd to have a series that builds to the ultimate conclusion being an almost 50-year-old movie. I think for what the movie asks though, it would almost make more sense to have it bring Mamo *back* though, instead of being a prequel. I’d have to rewatch that film though before I could comment on it it really works like that, as there’s some aspects of the finale that feel like they probably don’t blend seamlessly into *Mamo*!<.

Rotorscope2026-01-05 00:44

**Sentenced to be a Hero** and **Ikoku Nikki** (Journal with Witch) are bangers

Fortunately, I'm not caught up with most of the sequels so I should be able to keep my rotation to a manageable 5-6 shows. **Love Through A Prism** really intrigues me as a WIT 20 episode original anime coming out next week.

Nachtwandler_FS2026-01-05 01:16

Ok, so I finished my **True Tears** rewatch. Looks like despite remembering most of the plot I misremembered some things (like for some readon I thought [plot]>!Noe and Shinivhiro kissed at least once!<. Also, looks like the direcror already had a tendency for dramatic stills when (people made fun about it in recent Mechanical Mari). Still, the show held up pretty well and I liked it as much as before.

Anyway, as planned, I started rewatching **Strawberry Panic**, the greatest show that was meant to parody a lot of the yuri cliches of that time but is concidered genre classics now.

I was actually had a chuckle from yuri library in ep.2. Oh, and [both](https://animethemes.moe/anime/strawberry_panic/OP1-NCDVD528) [OPs](https://animethemes.moe/anime/strawberry_panic/OP2-NCDVD528) are still bangers.

qwertyqwerty45672026-01-05 02:03

[#dadgoals](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/5909e26d14c8.jpg)

[](#feelingloved)

_Ridley2026-01-05 03:04

Healthiest marriage in anime.

Emi_Ibarazakiii2026-01-05 05:07

Plot twist: He's talking to his sister.

[](#spooked)

qwertyqwerty45672026-01-05 15:20

no but his spirit wife bagged him when he was 7 and married him.

alotmorealots2026-01-05 06:57

Maybe I'll give that series another shot, I didn't like the way the villain of the first episode seemed to be a serious case of punching down in some ways, but it did have some promise.

qwertyqwerty45672026-01-05 15:20

it feels way more like the seasonal *have kids* propaganda than the title lead on.

[](#foldedarms)

TheBigIdiotSalami2026-01-05 02:36

They gotta make "We're The Tsukiyono Company" from Dress Up Darling Season 2.

Emi_Ibarazakiii2026-01-05 05:05

> They gotta make ~~"We're The Tsukiyono Company from"~~ every single series that was shown in Dress Up Darling ~~Season 2~~!

sewerdiving2026-01-05 02:47

I got hit in the head with a golf club and reincarnated to a fantasy world where I'm emotionally guarded due to immense guilt over a past death and reluctantly agreed to care for an adoptive daughter who is destined to die.

_Ridley2026-01-05 03:01

I'd watch it.

sewerdiving2026-01-05 03:20

I'm watching the hell out of it. Winning formula stays winning. I'm sure it'll have a happy ending this time. They just have to cure the blight which requires....oh....oh no.

alotmorealots2026-01-05 06:56

Still not the [golf tensei story](https://myanimelist.net/manga/157057/Pro_Golfer_no_Ore_ga_Imouto_no_Putter_ni_Tensei_shiteshimatta_Ken) I'm waiting for!

Abysswatcherbel2026-01-05 03:07

[Really good, Jc staff goat](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/841b91f708ee.jpg)

Saori Hayami is great, don't know how we have people that don't like her

Nachtwandler_FS2026-01-05 03:26

I am one of those people. She is one-note but her voice is not distinct enough to warrant being one-note. For me she is, using US terminology, "Wallmart Mamiko Noto". She had some potential at the start of her carreer but quickly lost it. And she is literary everywhere, while a bunch of better VAs barely get roles nowadays.

Quiddity1312026-01-05 05:19

Funny, when I first started hearing Mamiko Noto in a few roles I considered her discount Maaya Sakamoto. :P

TheBlasphemerAmon2026-01-05 05:30

I somewhat agree, but then there’s her role as Yamato in One Piece, where her voice is unrecognizable, so it feels more like she’s being asked to do the same thing over and over again.

actuallyrndthoughts2026-01-05 04:27

I'll never understand Hayamin haters, her voice is what dreams are made of

mr_beanoz2026-01-05 06:43

I think the problem is more about "why is she here in most of the show I watch"

Donnie-G2026-01-05 09:55

Some VAs get typecast a lot and it can lead to a bit of fatigue listening to same tone and voice repeatedly between many different shows.

I'm not saying Hayamin has no range, but she does get cast to use her "signature voice" a lot.

It's nothing new, many popular seiyuu had their share of haters. Such as Kugimiya Rie's many "tsundere" characters got people kinda sick of that voice. Hanazawa Kana also voices a lot of that stereotypical "cute girl" characters. Mamiko Noto also got cast as that deadpan girl a lot(she got a bunch of more 'genki' roles later on which is great, not an anime but I recommend listening to her as Suzuka-hime in SRW OG Saga Frontier). It's not really their fault though!

Oftentimes this leads people to say these seiyuus have no range, but maybe they just never had a chance to prove otherwise. If you asked me out of the blue to provide an example of them having more range, I'd have to go look up what they worked on and relisten to them because of how distinct their signature voice is. But for Saori Hayami, I think Yotsugi Onnonoki is a decent example of her sounding different.

Special-Weird65332026-01-05 03:08

This [tweet celebrating the Darwin Incident anime with illustrations from Afternoon authors](https://x.com/darwins_anime/status/2007753878930964634?s=46) really makes me remember how ridiculously strong this lineup is.

Most of these got both solid critical acclaim and good commercial success, with anime adaptations ranging from decent to straight up fantastic. (Wandance and Blue Period don’t exist… right?)

Even a more recent title like *Kimi to Uchu wo Aruku Tame ni* (*Spacewalking With You*) ended up being one of my favorite recent manga. It winning the 17th Manga Taisho, same as Darwin Incident a few years back, honestly makes me expect an anime adaptation at some point.

And seeing *Historie* finally getting an adaptation after all this time is kinda crazy too (even if the studio handling it is a bit of a mixed bag tbh).

The copium for a *Houseki no Kuni* sequel is obviously still there…

Shot_Complex2026-01-05 03:12

I want to get my brother into anime, I started him on gundam which he likes atm. Looking for a show that has little to no fan service or demons. Any help is appreciated

Natural-Name-49482026-01-05 08:06

Bungo Stray Dogs, Jujutsu Kaisen, Durarra!!, Vivt: Flourite Eye's Song, Hell's Gate (maaaaybe there's a lil fan service.), Super Cube, Fate/Stay Night (new spin off called Fate/Strange Fake coming soon)...

_Ridley2026-01-05 04:13

That whooshing sound you just heard was all my principles leaving my body as I watched a workplace slice of life about cute guys doing torture things.

Emi_Ibarazakiii2026-01-05 04:51

This might be my utter lack of principles, but I thought it was fun!

[](#delighted)

edit

>5.75

Apparently MAL does not.

_Ridley2026-01-05 05:00

> Apparently MAL does not.

That's just a skill issue. Nobody should be surprised after looking at the title and synopsis. If you weren't up for the absurd, you shouldn't have hit play.

Dull_Spot_82132026-01-05 05:36

I’m like, ok this is a fun idea for twisted work environment where your everyday employee has to put on a smile for that absolute shit job we must all do to survive in this twisted work culture we actually live in, but at the same time I need them to either go way more obscenely over dramatic and funny with the bit or something more than just clocking in like Sam Sheepdog and Ralph Wolf. We got these guys in gimp masks, and we’re playing with whips, but it is not as funny and raunchy as I need it to be. There is no room for cowardice and bait.

_Ridley2026-01-05 05:43

These sorts of shows always have weak first episodes. I liked what I saw enough to see what they do with the full cast introduced and the premise established.

Dull_Spot_82132026-01-05 05:51

I hope it’s just working out the kinks and warms up into something better.

Eraos_MSM2026-01-05 04:24

Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc VS Demon Slayer Infinify Castle?

Which movie did you like better?

Shimmering-Sky2026-01-05 04:56

This is tough because I think Reze Arc is the better *movie*, but I liked Infinity Castle more. The exact plot events and emotional beats in Infinity Castle clicked with me more, but Reze Arc was paced like an actual movie and Infinity Castle... wasn't, lol.

soulreaverdan2026-01-05 08:17

This sums up my thought on it pretty closely, actually. They're hard to compare because Infinity Castle is a fragment of a larger story of the Demon Slayer finale, while Reze is pretty self contained in the sense that it tells a complete story from start to finish inside of Chainsaw Man.

Muted-Conference29002026-01-05 06:46

Chainsaw Man was much more memorable for me. It was just great. While Demon Slayer pacing was a bit iffy but it's still a great movie.

oedipusrex3762026-01-05 07:20

Infinity Castle for me. With Demon Slayer, I know exactly what I’m getting which are waterworks and lots of backstory, and it delivers.

The Chainsaw Man Reze film is more of a wild card. I hold Fujimoto to a different standard since he has a track record for unpredictable writing like in Tatsuki Fujimoto 17–26 and Look Back. The Reze Film....was pretty predictable.

_Ridley2026-01-05 05:01

I made a major mistake and watched Ikoku Nikki before I started HanaKimi, and now I'm in no mood for a cross-dressing farce. I just want to sit in a quiet room and try not to cry.

BaytaCosmico2026-01-05 06:36

Same thing happened to me and I set aside HanaKimi for another time. Guess I should watch them in the order they air in from next week.

AdUnfair5582026-01-05 05:11

Is it possible for an anime to really *fit* a certain time period, but when you watch it later it just feels… off? Or maybe too much the same?

I’m getting that feeling with **SPY×FAMILY Part 2**. I’m almost done with it since I stopped watching it back in 2022, and while it felt nice to watch back during the COVID days when that kind of light, comforting show was exactly what a lot of us needed. But watching it now just feels kind of stagnant. Not bad, just very… samey.

baquea2026-01-05 07:10

FWIW I thought S1P2 was by far the weakest of the three parts I've watched (I haven't gotten to S3 yet). S1P1 was the beginning and so the most fresh. S2 had the boat arc which was good. S1P2 kinda just existed.

zenithfury2026-01-05 07:48

Maybe you just need to be in the right mood to watch it? Also if you watch long stretches of any show it can get tiresome through no fault of the show. Which is why quite a few people advocate having weekly releases on streaming services rather than all episodes dumped in one go.

Donnie-G2026-01-05 11:05

Sometimes you watch anything for long enough and well, it gets tiresome. I've been reading SPYxFAMILY since the first chapter and I kinda got bored over time. I would wait for a few chapters to come out before catching up on it, but I've effectively stopped reading it and just flip through the latest chapter once in a long while to see if anything is happening.

I also really enjoyed MHA initially but got bored and dropped it during the third season.

A lot of these longer running shows do end up spinning their wheels and are repetitive with not a whole lot of plot development.

And now that COVID is long over, anime has to compete with actually going out and doing stuff. Or just less time available due to needing to commute to work or whatever else instead of doing it from home.

Could be your tastes changed too. I used to be able to veg out to slice of life shows like Hidamari Sketch and Aria, and also rewatch them. But nowadays I feel like I need more novelty and rather watch or do something new.

AdUnfair5582026-01-05 11:21

Yeah, maybe. I haven't really consistently watched anime for 10 years, and I am just now trying to get back into a regular pattern. I'm starting with some of the shows I just stopped halfway but really close to finishing.

But the main show I am watching is Monster. Kinda taking a break since I kinds binged the first 13 episodes in just a few days. Looking forward to getting back to that show.

Although, it's the manga I did try reading Berserk around 10 years ago, but didn't really get into it. But I recently bought all the volumes and reading them in Japanese and having a blast. So, maybe my tastes did change?

Abysswatcherbel2026-01-05 05:44

Ramune will actually enter in the list with my top 10 romcoms ever

Muted-Conference29002026-01-05 06:39

I wouldn't say it's really good or anything but it's enjoyable and I am happy to see one other guy enjoying it here.

baquea2026-01-05 07:27

Asking as someone who knows very little about it, what's your sales pitch for the series?

Abysswatcherbel2026-01-05 07:55

It's a romdrama about the masks people use to interact with the environment around them. Nothing is truly what it looks

Now the most noticeable aspect is that Protagonist here is the most popular/hottest guy in the school, everyone want him, so he has a harem, he knows about it, the harem knows about it, everyone basically agrees they are rivals for protag-kun, but the harem part is not really the forefront

It is more drama than romance, I don't think it is for everyone due to that, we have many monologues and inner thoughts that tend to overcomplicate a situation, but if you pay attention to the hints, there are some density here, I would argue the over complication even gets into my pros for the good characterization of someone that overthinks each step he does

I also think it is really brave of them to have a Protagonist like this, pretty sure many people drop the series because they can't connect with that guy, he is painted as this "hero", but not in a self insert way that you see in many isekai, it is really different type of protag-kun, wish we had more like this

Cant for The animation, it is really good, I wish Alya looked like that, beautiful character designs, settings, background and corrections, omg so many pristine corrections here, so good that the series imploded and the final 3 eps will air in the spring season lol

Natural-Name-49482026-01-05 07:50

Why did it take me almost 10 years to discover Bungo Stray dogs? I think the last 5 days has been one of the best anime rollercoaster rides I've experienced so far. I really haven't had that 'Ain't no way that's over...' feeling in a long time. fuuuuugh

alotmorealots2026-01-05 08:05

> Why did it take me almost 10 years to discover Bungo Stray dogs?

Well,[ the Dogs were let out](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojULkWEUsPs) in 2000, so it may have been hard to find them!

That said, they do get touted by some of the regulars here periodically, so perhaps they have other similar quality shows waiting to foist upon you!

Natural-Name-49482026-01-06 05:31

foist? I have watched a few others that are similar in style and story telling. I just haven't been so emotionally drawn out by a series in quite a while.

What have you been watching recently?

Donnie-G2026-01-05 09:45

I think compared to most battle shonen type things(okay its a Seinen magazine, whatever), it tends to fly under the radar compared to more popular stuff like AoT, MHA, Bleach or whatever else.

The anime season releases are also quite infrequent with big time gaps in between, so I don't blame anybody losing track of it. I personally kinda jump into a season not remembering the previous one that well.

When I first saw the character designs, I was also slightly put off - thinking it was essentially just "fujobait". But I like challenging my prejudices and watched it anyway. It was good fun!

AnimeMod2026-01-05 12:15

Hello /r/anime, a new daily thread has been posted! Please follow
[this link](/r/anime/comments/1q4hs22/anime_questions_recommendations_and_discussion/) to move on to the new thread
or [search for the latest thread](/r/anime/search?q=flair%3ADaily&restrict_sr=on&sort=new).

[](#heartbot "And don't forget to be nice to new users!")

Old_Angle34382026-01-05 16:49

I really like ReZero, especially the RBD plot. I'm watching Summer Time Rendering. I've also already seen the movie Boss Level.
Reddit, can you recommend anime/movies similar to these?

baquea2026-01-05 20:45

Higurashi no Naku koro ni would be my suggestion. Tokyo Revengers is also similar, but isn't as good as those three.

Kiriijou2026-01-05 21:05

As an important heads up, **for u/Old_Angle3438** and anyone else who might be interested in watching Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni (Higurashi When They Cry), make sure you start with either: the [2006 anime](https://myanimelist.net/anime/934/Higurashi_no_Naku_Koro_ni) (and it's [second half Kai](https://myanimelist.net/anime/1889/Higurashi_no_Naku_Koro_ni_Kai)), the original visual novel, or the manga adaptation.

The 2020 anime Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni: Gou (Higurashi When They Cry: New), is a sequel to the original story, not a remake. **Don't accidentally start with Gou**, as it's full of spoilers.

(_Note: in most (if not all) regions, the only Higurashi anime on Crunchyroll, is Gou. Also, the original Visual Novel is currently available on Steam, under the title"Higurashi When They Cry: Hou", with the first arc being free to download._).

Old_Angle34382026-01-05 22:19

Okay thx sm