Anime Questions, Recommendations, and Discussion

Anime Questions, Recommendations, and Discussion - January 16, 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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Commentaires

VoidEmbracedWitch2026-01-16 11:16

Wow, JJK Culling Game #03 already makes a strong case for worst anime episode of the year. [JJK S3 #03] >!Some fancy camerawork can't save almost 20 minutes of just raw exposition. Not even the most long-winded of LN authors can match this level of unrestrained yap to pile plans upon rules upon plans and then do a recap by putting big fuckoff flowcharts on screen. If the direction was bold, it would've not had the small interstitial establishing shot before showing the bored comedian's audience. Would've shown some serious guts to tap into the Kuleshov effect for self-awareness that the previous sequence was incredibly dull.!<

vancevon2026-01-16 11:57

ma'am is this going to be on the test or not?

VoidEmbracedWitch2026-01-16 12:53

Yes, you better be prepared to answer what rule 7 of the culling game is.

[](#modabuse)

mr_beanoz2026-01-16 12:58

You can spend 100 points to add 1 rule to the culling game

VoidEmbracedWitch2026-01-16 13:03

Well, that's an F on the test

GondolaMedia2026-01-16 14:19

I thought the test was going to be about what Killing Bites is.

[](#panic)

mr_beanoz2026-01-16 12:26

I feel like saying this episode is "worst" is an overstatement.

VoidEmbracedWitch2026-01-16 12:47

It sure set the bar to beat high for me. I don't rule out some fantasy LN adaptations I wrote off the moment I saw their PVs having worse episodes in there, but since I value my time and sanity enough to not watch every seasonal (try around a third of the shows each season, usually keep around 5-15), there's a good chance this absolute slog of an episode will be the worst I experience from a new release this year.

E: It's a tall order to surpass [JJK S3 #03] >!text boxes and maps popping up around characters standing in a blank space for the overwhelming majority of the runtime. The episode's direction tries to mitigate the awfulness a bit with varied camera angles, but with the setup it has to work with, there's only so much it can accomplish and the result still ends up a miserable time.!<

Blue_Reaper992026-01-16 14:48

They needed to make sure viewers understand the rules and all the objectives. And they present them in a cool and digestible way. Overall I think the execution was quite good.

ComfortablyRotten2026-01-16 12:43

[](#popcorn2)

Dull_Spot_82132026-01-16 13:08

I figured they had to get the exposition and rules set for the games out of the way early in the season to catch everyone up, especially for anime only viewers, but you can’t drop all that information in the premier episode because that’s no way to start an action focused series. It’s a lot of exposition, yes, but knowing Jujutsu Kaisen, it’s probably going to be all action for the remainder of season.

zairaner2026-01-16 14:38

As long as it doesn't repeat any of the terrible parts of the shibuya arc, I probably won't even consider to talk about in the terms of "the worst". So far, so not bad.

AdUnfair5582026-01-16 12:07

**Darling in the FranXX** So aside from the obvious influences I have a feeling where this show is going. Odd ball girl comes in, and starts getting close to the one MC. Then this obviously is going to cause the other boy and girl characters to start to like other characters that are not their designated co-pilot. The results will either be good or bad for them when piloting. I feel like I have seen this idea used before in something. Maybe it's just the concept of the outsider comes in and changes the system from this is how we're doing it to something new entire.

This is just my feeling so far and I am on episode 5.

thisisdropd2026-01-16 12:09

>This is the place!

2B, or not 2B?

Ocixo2026-01-16 12:16

I took a great liking to [The Invisible Man and His Soon-to-be Wife](https://myanimelist.net/anime/60395) after the latest episode. It’s nice and thoughtful in a way that feels a bit reminiscent of last year’s Crush at Work.

The series also makes a serious effort to accurately portray the day-to-day of a blind person. You’re getting a good look into the female lead’s perspective on the world.

It’s a wonderfully charming show. A feeling that is perfectly illustrated by the wholesome vibe of [the OP](https://youtu.be/hcpOaVa12DA?si=4TEef0HaELHVMyz6).

SSjjlex2026-01-16 12:59

yes yes yes! incredibly cute and ironically very eye-opening! There's so many little details about how she lives and the ways others interact with her that really shows how well they know about the blind life.

I love that scene where she goes "I need someone to review my room" because holy shit of course she doesn't know what her room looks like! And then detail of her room being completely dark because of course she doesn't need to turn the lights on. It would never occur to you as a sighted person but it just makes sense when it happens.

Ocixo2026-01-16 13:44

I particularly liked the subtlety of the scene in which [Invisible Man and Soon-to-be Wife - Ep 2] >!Jarashi tried describing the design of these (new) clothes to Yako on their shopping date!<. Found this to be very endearing.

wloff2026-01-16 12:24

The sudden Smoking Behind the Supermarket hype is giving me Fragrant Flower flashbacks. A romance adaptation I've never heard of getting massive hype from manga readers.

Fragrant Flower for me started off strong but got kinda boring towards the end, and ended up in the "it was quite good" 7/10 locker. I guess that's tempering my expectations for this one a bit, but the art looks gorgeous and vibey and I'm all for an adult romance, so mark me down as moderately hyped.

[](#mug9)

SSjjlex2026-01-16 12:52

In fairness I do recall reading from a few source readers that a lot of the complaints mainly partain to the first portions of the manga (which the anime mainly covers) but improves significantly afterwards which in turn leaves it prone to extreme source-biasing. I'm not a source reader of it myself but I do sort of feel the same way with it only really picking up towards the end of the season.

As a source reader for supermarket smoking however, I can say that I feel like supermarket smoking had sort of the opposite effect. It had a strong start but sort of slowed down later (semi-monthly releases certainly not helping, though I hear its improving a lot in recent chapters). So I'm curious how reception will be to the anime in comparison, not to mention the more questionable studio selection compared to Fragrant Flower's which certainly did wonders for its popularity. Not to mention Fragrant Flowers has much stronger public appeal than Supermarket Smoking does in terms of general premise/characters so who knows how much of this will hold up till the end.

What has me baffled though is the sheer success of the KV post. like holy shit 7.7k karma in less than a day. Fragrant Flowers only got 5.5k for theirs and they're genuinely in the top scoring top popularity charts on mal. Granted, supermarket smoking is also up there in the grand scheme of things, but nowhere near Fragrant Flower's numbers.

zairaner2026-01-16 14:28

It already has 3 times the karma of the announcement thread for supermarket, it is crazy. the power of actual visuals is crazy.

Takemyfishplease2026-01-16 12:40

Can someone please explain the end of **All You Need is Kill** to me?

Absolutely gorgeous backgrounds in the film, the color palate was absolute top notch. But lord the faces and eyes just really were not a good choice. Ngl I think **Edge of Tomorrow** did it better and captured the insanity with those katanas better. Still worth 80min of time tho.

Salty1452026-01-16 14:00

Out of curiosity, as anyone by psychotic enough to ever go and track OP’s pace by episode? I know we have general arc numbers but I swear some of these episodes are better with it than others.

Zeallfnonex2026-01-16 14:18

There're OP fans that are definitely psychotic enough. (I am not one of them, but I'm sure they exist.)

cosmiczar2026-01-16 14:20

The pages for each episode in the One Piece fandom wiki say each chapters (including how many pages, if the episode doesn't adapted the whole chapter) the episodes adapted.

Salty1452026-01-16 15:02

Good to know

Charmanders_Cock2026-01-16 15:58

Generally, googling around with “One Piece Reddit” attached will yield answers to basically any question you might ever have about the series. That place is a mess to participate in actively but it’s a treasure trove of an archive.

qwertyqwerty45672026-01-16 14:02

seeing how much karma how fast the frieren threads are getting even as the show hasnt aired yet, makes me think its going to absolutely dominate the karma charts.

IXajll2026-01-16 14:22

> makes me think its going to absolutely dominate the karma charts.

Daring today, aren't we?

qwertyqwerty45672026-01-16 14:25

I honestly thought it would get rolled by jjk

Dumey2026-01-16 15:55

JJK has a lot of anti-fans compared to Frieren. Every so often you'll find threads of people complaining that Season 1 was too slow or that they hate the MC or something similar. I'm not sure if they're upset because they feel like JJK got undeserved popularity or something? It definitely gets a much more mixed reception than a critical darling like Frieren.

GondolaMedia2026-01-16 14:23

Do you think my other Friday show Hanisuka has any chances to beat Frieren in the karma charts?

[](#bigthink)

qwertyqwerty45672026-01-16 14:42

[](#bigthink 'solid maybe')

wloff2026-01-16 15:27

No, but it's a very strong contender on other *beating it* charts.

[](#ero)

zairaner2026-01-16 14:50

It's really funny making this comment the one (and probably only) day where we actually have a [frieren thread with <30 karma](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1qeeemz/the_story_of_us_by_milet_mv_frieren_season_2_ed/).

qwertyqwerty45672026-01-16 14:52

well I was talking about the episode discussion threads, and we should get the real episode discussion thread (frfr) up in 10 minutes or so

Queue_Jumping_Quack2026-01-16 16:01

I think the people who are expecting it to get like 8k for the premiere are going to be disappointed. In this era of Reddit when series like Oshi no Ko, JJK and Jigokuraku are struggling to reach 3k I don't think Frieren will have enough juice to double their karma totals.

Something happened after end of 2024 and winter 2025, when Dandadan season 1 and Solo Leveling season 2 were still getting regular 5 or 6k episodes (and Dandadan even hit that 10k once)... we saw it with Dandadan season 2 last year already, when it was not reaching the numbers the first season did and now same thing this season with JJK and Oshi no Ko.

TermEnvironmental8122026-01-16 14:39

Finally reach Ruhenheim arc from Monster. Wish me luck

Puddo2026-01-16 14:47

Hmm Harumaki Gohan [anime](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Asmti3OS0W0)?! Their MVs always have a clear neat own style, so will be interesting to follow for the more indie fans prob.

Salty1452026-01-16 15:20

*Do It Yourself* feeling largely forgotten to the sands of time even 3 years later feels so strange to me. Plenty of SoL seemed to have found some form of sustained memory over the last few years, including *Bocchi the Rock* which aired alongside DIY, and yet the latter seems to have been discarded as seasonal filler. Which is kind of unfortunate since IMO, it was at least good enough at what it was doing to be comparable to *Bocchi*.

Is this the fate of all non-Battle Shounen series or the 3 shows allowed to take honorable mention spots? To be passed over for the next big thing and largely forgotten about? Cause I feel like these days every year there’s always at least 4 or so top tier shows that fall to obscurity because they’re not Battle Shounen, which is not the same feeling I get while I rifle through the backlog.

actuallyrndthoughts2026-01-16 15:47

Bocchi is also relatable, funny, and with banger music performances that mark off story arcs of full of personal growth. Do It Yourself had some nice visuals but that's about it.

Salty1452026-01-16 16:04

I mean DIY also has some pretty fun characters and a solid story too. It’s not just pretty visuals. There’s substance to the fluff.

Zeallfnonex2026-01-16 16:28

The real question is what makes it stand out against all other SoL? What type of prompt or request would make you recommend DIY instead of any of the other SOL out there? If it's simply a well-done anime in a genre with a lot of well-done entries, then there's little reason to recommend this one, specifically, unless the requester has seen a lot of other SoLs already but not this one.

Salty1452026-01-16 16:50

I mean besides being better produced than most of the other options available on the market, it’s got a great story with a well-rounded cast and some strong themes which is a rarity in the genre. It’s just a really solid SoL, more so than many of the more popular traditional picks.

Durinthal2026-01-16 15:21

After the second episode of Roll Over and Die it's still more grimdark than I'd prefer and there's not much of a hook to keep me interested at the moment, so it might be the first show I'll drop since Zenshuu (which was more of a "not now" thing than out of dislike).

[](#badtaste)

Wanderingjoke2026-01-16 15:28

>which was more of a "not now" thing than out of dislike

How about now?

Durinthal2026-01-16 15:30

Why that show instead of one of the hundreds of others in my backlog?

[](#curious)

Salty1452026-01-16 15:27

You think we’ll ever get out of the cycle of Battle Shounen completely suffocating the discourse anywhere that isn’t circles like this sub (where it only mostly dominates)?

It just feels wrong being unable to go on whole sites like YouTube without having to stumble around 90% of the content being about how the latest mid-tier Shounen offering “fell off” and is now only a 9/10.

Like I know “just ignore it” but that’s a little more difficult when the only options are “no discussions or videos for you” or Shounen glazing. Reality is I’d love my own space to discuss stuff, but the Shounen discourse has become so suffocating that such places don’t really seem to exist anymore.

Dumey2026-01-16 15:46

Unfortunately, no. Just like how Isekai dominates the Fantasy genre right now because it's a super convenient and easy way to write a fantasy world without having to do a lot of intensive or difficult world building writing. Battles are a convenient and easy way to write out character conflicts without having to actually think through the long term consequences of more realistic social conflicts.

We do have other Shonen publications like Frieren to show how you can write around different subjects without just resorting to combat, but even in Frieren, some of the biggest impact moments are those fight scenes when communication no longer works out and fighting is the last resort. It's very easy to communicate to the viewer. And often a perfect way to right a climax to the conflict of your story or character arc.

Salty1452026-01-16 16:06

Somewhat fitting then that my biggest critique of *Frieren* is how often it sets aside its tighter episodic writing for long battle arcs that are maybe a little too drawn out for the point they make.

Zeallfnonex2026-01-16 15:52

That's like asking DC or Marvel to stop dominating the conversation on Western comics. Find your own niche, find other people who like said niche and want to discuss it, and be fine with that. Don't just browse aimlessly around YouTube or other sites, that of course is designed to appeal to the majority of people for the algorithm.

Salty1452026-01-16 15:57

I mean that’s a bit of an unfair comparison. There isn’t two companies that dominate the anime scene quite like DC and Marvel. WSJ certainly holds a lot of sway when it comes to manga/anime, but there’s a lot more to the industry than just that subsection.

It would more be the equivalent of discourse on Western films focusing 90% on Marvel and other superhero films. Like yeah, it’s a popular subsect of the industry, but acting like it’s basically the only part of the industry that matters would be disingenuous. Though if you do the same for anime, that’s just normal lol.

flamethrower22026-01-16 18:48

You're not allowed to discuss comics on r/anime . That being said, I need to read through Bone (independent long format comic) at some point.

Ham_PhD2026-01-16 15:59

>Reality is I’d love my own space to discuss stuff, but the Shounen discourse has become so suffocating that such places don’t really seem to exist anymore.

So make one.

Salty1452026-01-16 16:03

I mean, I try, but I don’t always want to spend a month scripting, recording, and editing a video or a day synthesizing my thoughts on a topic into some grand post. Sometimes I want to see what others think and not just talk into the void.

Ham_PhD2026-01-16 16:04

You can make a subreddit or a discord or something dedicated to it. Doesn't have to be a youtube channel or something that intense.

Salty1452026-01-16 16:08

I’ve tried that too, and my schedule just doesn’t allow the time commitment to promo and getting it off the ground.

Maybe I’ll revisit the idea eventually.

VoidEmbracedWitch2026-01-16 18:05

Don't even have to start one on your own when there are several r/anime adjacent discord servers that fill the need Salty has

Jusenkyo_52026-01-16 17:05

Shounen will always dominate the narrative, but in general I think a lot of this is due to anime blowing up in popularity in the past 5 years. Most people watch what's popular for the first few years they're into anime and I feel like that describes like 90% of online anime fans right now.

Salty1452026-01-16 17:14

I keep telling myself the "Shounen phase" will end eventually, but we're almost six years out from the start of the COVID boom and it doesn't seem to be happening.

By the time the tides do recede, I'm left wondering if there will be anything left to salvage (in terms of the pre-COVID cultural memory and places like AniTube). I know a lot of people seem to be dipping out from the space, and there's not too many people coming up to replace them.

Jusenkyo_52026-01-16 17:22

The landscape is forever changed certainly.

I don't think pre-2000s anime has changed at all in popularity as they seem to have cemented themselves as "classics", but it's crazy how many shows from 2000 - 2020 that were huge are just gone in popularity. How many people have watched Haruhi Suzumiya or Clannad in the past decade?

As far as online review/analysis media goes, I feel like Sakugabooru captured what was left of it. There just doesn't seem to either be a market for it or people willing to share.

Social media in general and the media literacy situation online has made it a lot harder for people to engage in opinion pieces. If you make a small mistake or if the reader doesn't agree 100% it's an instant down vote lol.

Salty1452026-01-16 17:32

I wish Sakuga Blog would bring on a video editor. Their reads are always super interesting, but I do feel like you're missing a massive market by sticking to just writing. A lot of people just don't read as much anymore, especially long, technical articles.

Alt22212026-01-16 19:48

my buddies that liked battle shonen 20 years ago still like battle shonen today. the teens of today also like battle shonen. so with that being said: i dont think there is an exit at all, really. thats why we fight the good fight each and every day. down with battle shonen tyranny.

nwl1232026-01-16 15:35

Round 1 of voting for "Best Seiyuu of Fall 2025" has [started](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1qehf6r/fall_2025_best_seiyuu_of_the_season_voting_round_1/)!

Queue_Jumping_Quack2026-01-16 16:03

Ah Frieren Fridays, how I've missed you. Now if we only had Apothecary Diaries running this season as well... but can't get too greedy, there's so many good series ongoing, sequels and new ones both.

Ham_PhD2026-01-16 16:03

Watching **Kimi ni Todoki S2** right now and while I still enjoy it, it certainly is drowning in frustrating tropes lol.

Everyone is incapable of speaking all of a sudden.

vancevon2026-01-16 17:33

how are they doing on the kissing front

Korkez112026-01-16 18:43

Ah yes, the manga that codified every annoying shoujo trope... and came out *after* Fruits Basket subverted half of them lol.

gothxo2026-01-16 16:16

> This is the place!

one of the better video game adaptations i've seen. the production delays turned a lot of people off during season 1, but it's well worth watching. great job adapting the story and bringing in some of the Pearl Harbor Descent Record stuff was a great idea too. plus, you get to hear Nier:Automata's music and every chance you get to hear that is good

Abysswatcherbel2026-01-16 16:38

ShukiYuki has the best merch this season by far, already choosing some here for my yet to be started Silver hair collection

Komarist2026-01-16 22:57

Abyss, please stop [planning to sleep on Yuki's armpit](https://shiboyugi-anime.com/core_sys/images/main/cont/bd/01/limited/pillow_cover.jpg)

sonicstorm11142026-01-16 17:31

Bit of a weird ask, but could anyone recommend a romance anime where one or both of of the lovers mutate? Examples of what I'm talking about include [Eureka Seven] >!Eureka's Coralian features manifesting after coming into contact with the Scub Coral!< and [Darling in the Franxx] >!Hiro sprouting horns and becoming more klaxosaur-like!< .

(For whatever reason, I realized that both shows have THAT specific element of all things in common.)

zsmg2026-01-16 21:45

SaiKano, kind off.

Salty1452026-01-16 18:01

*Frieren* S2 jumped up so high on MAL that it seems to have broken the site. It's not appearing on the Top Anime list, and on its own page says its ranked 13th with a score that would actually put it in 2nd only behind its first season.

We thought *Frieren* would be the new *Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood* but it was actually the new *Gintama* all along.

AmethystItalian2026-01-16 18:23

Well if the first one got #1 if this second season is the same level it'll only get higher due to the sequel effect.

Salty1452026-01-16 18:42

Almost certainly, but what that means is you've got yourself a new *Gintama* situation where every new season is gonna pile on the top alongside the last.

AmethystItalian2026-01-16 18:43

Yup sounds about right!

At least the barrier to enter is much lower than Gintama

Salty1452026-01-16 19:02

For now.

AmethystItalian2026-01-16 19:02

Even if Frieren gets 10 more seasons, its season 1 entry will always be better than Gintama's

awesomenessofme12026-01-16 18:45

Sequel effect is often very stunted when the score is high in the first place tbf. See Vinland Saga going from 8.78 to 8.82 or Apothecary Diaries going from 8.86 to 8.91. I wouldn't be surprised if Frieren S2 ends up around the same or slightly lower even if it matches the quality. But it could also end up a little bit higher.

cosmiczar2026-01-16 18:10

Insane that 2026 is gonna be the year we're gonna watch Murase's *Gundam Hathaway 2*, Izubuchi's *Patlabor EZY* and Oshii's *VOTOMS Die Graue Hexe*. All the uncs coming back to deliver some primo uncslop (affectionate). Year of the Unc, baby!

-

btw, when I saw the VOTOMS news yesterday I was fully shellshocked, but since then I saw that Sunrise said it's only the first of the projects they'll be releasing between this year and 2028 to commemorate their 50th anniversary and now my mind can't stop racing trying to imagine what else is coming

There's certainly some new Gundam coming, but there's always a Gundam coming. I'm also expecting that Tomino's Himiko Yamato will be one of those projects. But what else are they cooking? Will they let Obari bring back the Brave series (for real this time)? Will they make a new Dunbine to capitalize on the isekai craze? What other parterships, like the ones with Khara and now I.G, could happen (the most obvious would be a Bones one, btw)? The possibilities are endless!

Nomar_952026-01-16 18:32

Extremely off-topic, but whenever I hear "Unc", my thoughts immediately go to Miles Morales in the Spider-Man 2 game constantly using it whenever he's talking about or to his uncle.

He says it all the time, and it's especially annoying because he never used it once in the previous games and it's weird to hear it so many times in this one.

AmethystItalian2026-01-16 18:26

Frieren aired and I was so excited to watch it I actually did on the same day it aired! That's gotten hard for me lately lol

That being said I had so many small nitpicks with the episode...I really hope I haven't entered my old person yells at cloud phase of anime watching...I know I'm watching less now but I don't want that

[](#shatteredsaten)

zairaner2026-01-16 19:01

> That being said I had so many small nitpicks with the episode...I

Now I am suddenly much more tempted to watch the episode the day it airs, because now I am curious what that would mean.

AmethystItalian2026-01-16 19:03

Hopefully you don't notice any of them!!

[deleted]2026-01-16 18:35

[removed]

MyrnaMountWeazel2026-01-16 23:01

Sorry, your comment has been removed.

- Hey, there's parts of your comments that contain what we consider spoilers. If you can spoiler tag the parts of your post that discuss the plot, I'll reapprove your comment.

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qwertyqwerty45672026-01-16 18:43

I cant believe we live in an era where PDP is doing anime studio videos.

[](#maxshock)

Jusenkyo_52026-01-16 18:48

I guess if you wait long enough people forget that you were a part of the alt right pipeline.

Abysswatcherbel2026-01-16 20:11

Should I know what PDP is?

qwertyqwerty45672026-01-16 20:17

pewdiepie

OmegaVirgin942026-01-16 20:54

Pacific Drums and Percussion (I tried to look for an anime character that plays pdp drums, but of course drums don't get the same level of detail as guitars in anime)

Infodump_Ibis2026-01-16 20:55

[Seeing what's getting daggers in that "discussion"](#seasonaldepression)

Korkez112026-01-16 18:46

My biggest complaint about Fern isn't that she constantly harasses Stark (considering her life circumstances she's actually much **less** socially awkward than would've been expected) but that she never receives any pushback that would've force her to grow out of her childish phase. Thankfully, first episode of S2 humanizes her a lot so if she managed to grow up as a person by herself that's good enough for me.

Alt22212026-01-16 19:44

lil too realistic for ya?

_Pyxyty2026-01-16 18:59

Just went through the comments of an anime-centric post in a movies subreddit.

Yeah, no, never doing that again. Got called a kid diddler for liking anime.

Also some dude kept saying the most heinous shit and pretended every anime fan believed it. Dude said "anime fans believe every oscar should ALWAYS go to anime" or that "anime fans think every anime is immediately more artistically intrinsic than any other media just because it's from Japan". God what a douche.

With how popular anime's gotten, I almost forgot there were still people that had such a deeply rooted hatred for it.

Sorry for bringing it here, just wanted to mini-rant. Worst part is some of the people there were swallowing it up and believing most anime fans actually take the stances that they were making up. God it's so annoying how gullible people can be. Fuck's sake. Dude got them thinking we all think Demon Slayer should win the Oscars because we're immature and it would justify us watching it if it wins. For fuck's sake.

Jusenkyo_52026-01-16 19:02

Anime becoming popular has honestly brought on more problems than it's worth.

pachipachi71522026-01-16 21:08

Meh, ignore the fandom, take their money, and make sequels with it. It's worked out well as long as you're not a social media addict.

Jusenkyo_52026-01-16 21:26

Well, unfortunately I am a consumer of anime and would like to talk about my favorite art form with similarly minded peers lol. If I worked for a production company I'd likely feel different, but if you're online at all anime is always catching strays from somebody.

BiggieCheeseLapDog2026-01-16 19:16

I know exactly what thread you’re talking about lol. I was just there too and I had to stop myself from replying to too many people. The statements that were getting upvoted there were completely moronic and blindly biased with no basis in reality as well as the topic article being similarly stupid and only reinforcing the biases of those people. It’s watching a bunch of people who don’t know what they’re talking about discussing like they’re experts. r/movies in general has a shitty user base so I use something like r/letterboxd which not only actually watches films from countries that aren’t America, but also they’re far more open minded.

_Pyxyty2026-01-16 19:46

You don't know me Mr Biggie Cheese Lap Dog but I just wanted to say that whenever I see a comment of yours under any post on this sub it's always a good take (plus you also put me on to Kyousougiga way way long ago which became one of my favorites and I'll always appreciate that), so to hear that you also saw the post and felt the same level of annoyance from those idiots made me feel so much better, somehow.

Checked out the letterboxd sub and it seems much more casual, which is great. Thanks for giving yet anothee good recommendation. Have a great day!

_Ridley2026-01-16 20:35

I went and looked it up because I'm a messy bitch who loves drama, and I'm starting to develop an eye twitch from people saying most anime fans only watch anime. Like, even if that's true, anime is an enormous medium. I've completed over 1300 entries on MAL, but I routinely visit the lists of people here who've watched a similar amount, and we have only 5-600 shows in common. Only watching anime is like only watching American movies, which describes a lot of people.

Honestly, though, I don't think that describes most anime fans. Whenever you go to CDF, people are talking about all sorts of media, the meta thread is periodically taken over by people watching Chinese donghua, and casual fans of anime definitionally are watching other things.

Ham_PhD2026-01-16 20:54

So many people out there that view anime as a genre and not a medium.

That sentiment unfortunately gets lost on a lot of anime fans too for whatever reason.

Jusenkyo_52026-01-16 20:59

People view anime as mindless slop. World Masterpiece Theater doesn't matter, Satoshi Kon and Oshii don't matter, it's either Studio Ghibli or Highschool DxD, no in-between.

BiggieCheeseLapDog2026-01-16 21:03

No you see those are all *exceptions*. They aren’t like the *other* anime that’s all lowbrow filth.

I don’t understand how some people can think that way. If there ends up being so many “exceptions” to your stereotype, maybe your stereotype isn’t completely true in the first place.

cppn022026-01-16 21:01

> the meta thread is periodically taken over by people watching Chinese donghua

Tbf the people who come at anime fans like that almost certainly don't know or don't care that donghua and anime are two different things.

edit: Reading the article before diving into the thread and god does that already get so many things wrong.

_Ridley2026-01-16 21:17

> Reading the article before diving into the thread and god does that already get so many things wrong.

My previous fandom was romance novels, which I still keep an eye on, and the terrible feature articles that refuse to take its subject seriously, resulting in ignorant conclusions that make the writer look foolish, are, sadly, something the two have in common.

Ham_PhD2026-01-16 21:01

The internet is nothing but a collection of echo chambers. It's infuriating.

pachipachi71522026-01-16 21:07

At this point I just view fandoms like territory. As long as you stay in your side you're good, but if you go to the border, prepare for a fight. Just tuning out of social media like Twitter or bigger subreddits like the movies one has brought so much peace to my mind.

Btw_kek2026-01-16 21:12

> "anime fans believe every oscar should ALWAYS go to anime"

true....

Salty1452026-01-16 21:36

> I almost forgot there were still people that had such a deeply rooted hatred for it.

Old habits die hard, just look at how many people still act like CGI anime is some affront to the artistry of the medium or the ever-present sub vs. dub debate.

OldGoldDream2026-01-16 21:42

> the ever-present sub vs. dub debate.

There are still some misguided souls watching dubs so the crusade must continue, for their sake.

Dull_Spot_82132026-01-16 21:48

They are sleeping on greatness. Seiyuu are incredibly entertaining even outside of their anime roles.

OldGoldDream2026-01-16 21:41

>anime is immediately more artistically intrinsic than any other media just because it's from Japan".

Sure this is true but it's polite not to just say it.

theangryeditor2026-01-16 21:58

> Dude said "anime fans believe every oscar should ALWAYS go to anime" or that "anime fans think every anime is immediately more artistically intrinsic than any other media just because it's from Japan"

With generalizations like those you always get the two types of responses: "[group] are not (all) like that" and "*Real* [group] are like that and it's a GOOD thing"

Wanderingjoke2026-01-16 20:00

In my next edition of "I wasn't interested, but it aired on Toonami so I decided to record it and watch while working", I watched the first episode of some little-known show from fall 2024.

[One again](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1ph8n7d/comment/nszv305/), I really should listen to my gut. There was so much to dislike in this first episode of Dan Da Dan that I'm half surprised I even made it through. Occultism and the supernatural is already a hard sell for me, but tack on sexual assault and constant screaming, and I really just want to run away. Since it's a "while I'm working" watch, I may try another episode or two to see if it calms down, but it has to make up for a lot bad will for be to continue past that.

On the upside, I like the animation and the OP.

_Ridley2026-01-16 20:42

You're getting downvoted, but you're right, and you should say it. I enjoy the show a lot, but I want to slap the mangaka and his editor for using the threat of sexual assault and gendered violence as a cheap source of tension. It adds nothing to the work but problems, and could easily have been replaced with something creative and absurd like with Okarun's, um, jewels.

ZaphodBeebblebrox2026-01-16 22:44

[DanDaDan S1]>!When I first watched the show, I was not happy about that moment, but I was also willing to move past it and hope that it was a one-off poor choice. However, when it happened again at the end of the season, I was just done. Too much of a pattern.!<

_Ridley2026-01-16 22:48

S2 was safe on that front, but it's on them for squandering people's trust. It's a dumb, unforced error.

ZaphodBeebblebrox2026-01-16 22:59

I heard [S2]>!ended with Okarun getting sexually assaulted?!<

Salty1452026-01-16 21:42

Looking at every new season on MAL got me looking like the one Doakes meme. I *know* there’s brigading, I just can’t prove it.

I think the only times I can remember in the last few years of something pushing high in the list in a remotely organic fashion was *Frieren* S1 and *Bocchi the Rock*, the latter of which though was also absolutely brigaded because wanted to see how high it could go, so really it’s only *Frieren*. I can maybe give a pass for OnK too given the reaction Ep. 1 got among fans.

S2 of *Frieren* on the other hand… it’s not like that episode was some absolutely masterpiece, but up it went much like everything else. I want to say MAL needs to fix their shit, but putting a hold on scores would only delay the issue anyway.

Now, once again, I can’t prove shit… but I *feel* it.

theangryeditor2026-01-16 21:51

At least we've moved past the FMAB MAL ranking drama

[](#tiredaoi "soon to be replaced by Frieren MAL ranking drama I guess")

Salty1452026-01-16 22:37

As one door closes, another opens.

There will never not be some drama surrounding MAL’s top anime list.

Durinthal2026-01-16 22:12

I agree, ban everyone that gave Frieren 10/10.

[](#elves)

_Ridley2026-01-16 22:21

> I know there’s brigading, I just can’t prove it.

On the other end of the spectrum, people are pretty obviously bombing Bean Counter here and on MAL. Some people just aren't raised right.

Jusenkyo_52026-01-16 22:30

It's absolutely wild to me to be into a niche medium like anime that's historically been made for society's outcasts and then be homophobic.

Salty1452026-01-16 22:36

I don’t know if I fully agree with that assessment about anime’s historical origins. However, I will say the weirder thing is more that, in a medium with as many options out there as anime does, that people would concern themselves with actively hating on something that they can just ignore. You don’t have to like it, but I just don’t get spending the energy to actively hate it either.

_Ridley2026-01-16 22:45

> You don’t have to like it, but I just don’t get spending the energy to actively hate it either.

Right? The bottom of the episode two thread for Bean Counter is a garbage heap, and the thread itself is only like 60% upvoted. Correct me if I'm wrong, but people aren't piling into ecchi threads to complain about the smut or downvote the threads. If it's not for you, walk on by.

Jusenkyo_52026-01-16 23:01

I'm simplifying things somewhat as you've obviously got major anime that are targeted towards kids and general audiences throughout its early history, but anime fandom as we know it (specifically late night anime) was pretty inclusive and was perpetuated by sci fi nerds, women, and otaku of all kinds.

The nerd space now seems to have been dominated by right wing incels for some reason but anime otaku are historically seen as outcasts, not to say that the medium of animation itself in Japan is fringe if that makes any sense.

Salty1452026-01-16 22:33

I still remember when the CR comments situation got so bad that they just nuked them outright.

gvon892026-01-16 21:52

Frieren S2 is already #1 overall on MAL lol

Jusenkyo_52026-01-16 21:55

I loved season 1 but this is a bit presumptuous lol. The episode was fine but it's not even my favorite premiere this season let alone the greatest anime ever made.

gvon892026-01-16 21:57

Yea idk what happens yet or what this season is supposed to cover, but 10 episodes living up to its 1st 2 cour season...I have a hard time believing it. Guess ill begin finding out in a few hours when im home.

Wanderingjoke2026-01-16 22:17

I don't put much faith in MAL scores at the start of a season.

gvon892026-01-16 22:19

Yea i know itll change wildly, just thought it was funny. Im pretty sure S1 was hanging in the 9.10s going up slightly each week and exploded to like a 9.38 after the finale

CerberusZX2026-01-16 21:56

Yesterday I mentioned having trouble finding something to clip despite enjoying a ton of shows this season. Today I found something to clip. In Frieren. A sequel season to an immensely popular series that doesn't need any help getting more attention.

michhoffman2026-01-16 22:10

But it only has 5 out of the top 7 posts on this subreddit right now. How is anyone supposed to know about it without it having at least 6 out of the top 8 posts?

Komarist2026-01-16 22:42

Darn that "no clip posting from new episodes for a week" rule!

Though if enough users post clips from the second half of season one, I may be able to mark it as completed

[](#fingertwirl)

LoboDaBastich2026-01-16 22:22

I've watched a good amount of various Anime... but I think one of the best fight scenes I've ever watched was from the last episode of 'Hero Inside'

The Bridge Fight was friggin EPIC

Dull_Spot_82132026-01-16 22:36

I binged four episodes of [Prism Rondo](https://anilist.co/anime/202955) yesterday and I am here to tell you it’s great so far. Main characters have excellent chemistry and this period piece is surprisingly funny. It’s like if you mixed Anne Shirley with Blue Period, with art college students in early 20th century England. There’s exploration of culture shock from a Japanese exchange student’s point of view, cultural exchange through art, and the motivation and inspiration behind why individuals decide to pursue art. If you’re a fan of WIT Studio and what to see an anime original this season, I highly recommend looking at this one on Netflix. All 20 episodes are out and I know what I’m binging this weekend.

vancevon2026-01-16 22:49

hi i have an anime question: what's frieren?

zairaner2026-01-16 22:52

It's when you are very cold.

Don't know what's the series about without any further information, but it's probably a christmas anime.

Wanderingjoke2026-01-16 23:24

Finished Gacha.

Literally Ass-Pull, the anime. It was terrible, and convenient, but it still had some quality that kept me watching, somehow.

jar00st2026-01-16 23:28

I’m looking for something like GATE where modern weapons/technology clash with a medieval/fantasy world, but it stays tense and challenging (strategy, real obstacles, not just effortless wins).

I tried Solo Leveling but got bored after a while.

Any recommendations that fit that “tech gap” vibe?

Sporadia_2026-01-16 23:35

It's not medieval but you said 'tech gap vibe'. I'm going to recommend Turn A Gundam. I *think* there's enough set up in episode 1 that I'm not spoiling the show by saying that. And it's a show with realistic characters and conflicts etc. Might be a little lacking on the fantasy side of things though.

jar00st2026-01-17 00:02

Thanks! I’ll check it out. Quick question: on Amazon I sometimes see a Gundam show labeled something like ‘Gundam XL’ (not sure of the exact name). Do you recommend that one too, or should I start with Turn A first

CerberusZX2026-01-17 00:41

This subreddit has a pretty handy [watch order wiki](https://www.reddit.com/r/anime/wiki/watch_order/). It mentions that Turn A can be enjoyed on its own, but the universe is related to (but different than) the main UC timeline and is therefore best enjoyed with that context.

That said, there are many shows with the UC (Universal Century) setting. It would take a lot of watching to get to Turn A and treating it as homework is not ideal, so your best bet is probably to just jump in. Still, I was hesitant to start Gundam as I think giant humanoid mechs are a super stupid idea, but after starting the original Mobile Suit Gundam earlier this year I was surprised by how good it is. You shouldn't watch UC Gundam as a prerequisite for an AU, but you may want to watch UC Gundam for UC Gundam.

raevnos2026-01-17 08:51

That's one of the story arcs in Otherside Picnic.

theangryeditor2026-01-16 23:46

Frieren-vision Himmel is like Biribiri-vision Touma ~~or Accel-vision Touma~~

[](#thoughtful)

alotmorealots2026-01-17 04:32

> Biribiri-vision Touma

So largely completely unjustified by the anime version?

> Accel-vision Touma

Or completely justified by the anime version lol

Abysswatcherbel2026-01-16 23:48

Frieren did it again, just like I remember, AOTW

cppn022026-01-17 00:01

anime of the week?

anime of the world?

Emi_Ibarazakiii2026-01-17 02:05

Anime of the week.

Next week's AOTW is the android fuckbot.

entelechtual2026-01-17 00:21

By did it again do you mean not get watched by you?

jar00st2026-01-16 23:51

We always see isekai where the MC adapts and becomes important, but what about the ones where it fails immediately? Like: you get isekai’d, you’re allergic to some common food there, you eat it once, and… that’s it. No destiny, no growth. Would that still “count” as an isekai, or is it basically a story that ends before it starts?

Nachtwandler_FS2026-01-17 00:06

There was a joke article on one site describing how it would actually go with different generic isekai protags if they get transferred to the past or fantasy world. Was a nice read.

Like from them dying from the local viruses to being executed while trying to warn the local authorities about distant future.

jar00st2026-01-17 00:26

Honestly it’s not even just *you* dying—there’s also the reverse: you could bring some virus over while incubating it and accidentally become the start of a plague/apocalypse in the isekai world. Now I kinda want a ‘1000 Ways to Die: Isekai Edition’.

Emi_Ibarazakiii2026-01-17 02:03

*Oh no, the knight is coming at me and all I have is this useless level 0 ability!*

[**Fans on the edge of their seat, waiting for the ability to awaken**](#awe)

*Knight cuts his head off*

[Oh](#emptyinside)

jar00st2026-01-17 02:37

One isekai trope that always bugs me is the RPG HUD/menus in real-time fights. Like, an orc is charging and I’m supposed to calmly open the UI and read stats/options? By the time I go ‘oh, it’s an orc…’ I’m already dead. Unless the HUD slows time, which would be insanely broken. In a real combat situation it feels like it would just get you killed

flamethrower22026-01-17 06:45

In the same vein, calling your attacks.

It doesn't bother me as much because, although they might not say it, characters need an opening to call out their attack and unleash it (in many works, not always). This is an actual thing in Precure: they need either an opening or a teammate to call out the finishing move; they don't have the space to call it out in front of an actively fighting enemy.

jar00st2026-01-17 07:29

Same. In isekai it doesn’t matter how close to death they are, they always have time to think clearly, make a plan, and calmly call out their moves—like nobody ever panics. Meanwhile I panic when I really need to use the bathroom and every stall is occupied. What are they expecting from some random teenager who just got dropped into a new world?

Infodump_Ibis2026-01-17 02:40

I was thinking The Oregon Trail and dysentery and then I remembered I've watched a few isekai that have remarked on hygiene: Strange Dawn (devoted a lot of screen time to this), Saving 80,000 Gold (how bad village toilets are comes up).

wloff2026-01-17 00:06

I finally found the time to catch up on Fate/strange Fake (I wanted to rewatch the prequel first).

Honestly, I feel like all the glaze Sentenced to be a Hero is getting this season should be on this show instead. Fight scenes are every bit as awesome if not better (I think better), but on top of that you have an actual top-tier story with intense stakes, twists and turns, great characters, and seemingly lots of schemes and mysteries yet to uncover.

I get that Fate can feel like an intimidating series to get into, and the massive delays sure haven't helped to build hype, but oh boy, this shit is ***good.***

[](#rengehype)

Dull_Spot_82132026-01-17 00:29

I think it’s actually a good entry point into Fate for new watchers. You don’t really need anything but the prequel to understand the gist of what’s going on.

Raiking022026-01-17 00:09

[For anyone interested, I'm planning on hosting a Rewatch for Dragon Ball's 40th Anniversary. Feel free to join if you want to!](https://old.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1qev5al/dragon_ball_40th_anniversary_rewatch_interest/)

OmegaVirgin942026-01-17 02:20

Hmmmmm... Been thinking about rewatching Dragon Ball...

Shad0w_malfoy2026-01-17 00:09

Could anyone recommend me some romance anime? Ive been to mostly shonen and seinen in my life but I want to find some cool one to start with :D

TehAxelius2026-01-17 00:45

Jump straight into the depths of archetypical shojo romcoms with *Kimi ni Todoke*.

Otherwise *Toradora, Horimiya* and *Dangers in My Heart* are all solid choices.

vancevon2026-01-17 02:13

my two favorite romance anime are school days and tsuki ga kirei. they have slightly different plots, characters and themes and all that, but i think you'll have a great time with both

Wanderingjoke2026-01-17 03:01

Tomo-chan is a Girl

Insomniacs After School

I Have a Crush at Work

A Sign of Affection

Yano-kun's Ordinary Days

Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie

Tonikawa

jaesuk972026-01-17 07:20

Kimi ni Todoke

Ore Monogatari

Rose of Versailles (1979)

Maison Ikkoku

His and Her Circumstances

Salty1452026-01-17 00:44

I’ve probably ranted about it before, and will do so again, but there is something about anime’s relatively short cultural memory that just feels wrong to me.

I’m not gonna go into an “old anime good, new anime bad” tirade, but I will say that a lot of discourse seems awfully cyclical to me. I mentioned it in a comment the other day, but there’s this commonality that arises in discussions of AoT or OnK or *Zom 100* that bugs me. A lot of the historical discussion on the latter two and present discussion on the first repeat this idea a lot of being blown away by the mere presence of thematic storytelling. That the idea that a show could even tell such a story and not be a simple comedy or action fluff piece is some eyeopening and revolutionary experience. Hell, I’d also say the reaction to shows like *Takopi* and *Frieren* that I do agree are *that* good feels tinged with this idea that these are some groundbreaking works (at least for the wrong reasons).

Following off that, in the same vein that *Naruto* and *Dragon Ball* are remembered as classics merely because they are the shows that hooked a lot of people historically on anime. These shows, along with many others in a similar situation are destined to be remembered as classics of this generation for being a lot of people’s intro into that true higher degree of storytelling.

However, and this is where I put on my yelling at clouds gloves, it all feels like a discussion that we’ve already had years ago. It doesn’t actually feel like many of the “new gen” shows have reached their acclaim through being able to match with the best historically, but that we’ve just kind of forgotten that those shows exist collectively. Yeah sure, a lot of it is coming from new people coming into the hobby and not knowing any better, but I also can’t help but feel like lacking some kind of structure to preserve the memory of “the classics” leads to this cycle where things aren’t as much as getting better as much as the old stuff is being forgotten.

And this does have some impact on the trajectory of the industry output as well. Classics are important for a number of ways. For one, they offer a decent enough jumping off point for new creators so they don’t have to, in theory, go through the same trials and writing pains that the last generation did. Second, by having these anchors you lead to a lot less… incest. Understanding the classics can help to understand why modern tropes are the way they are, better informing both the creator and consumer experience. If instead we end up with works inspired by inspirations of inspirations, then data loss eventually leads to things becoming tired and cliche or, to put it more bluntly, slop. We don’t move forward by just mindlessly regurgitating, we just spin around in a circle until we eventually implode in an incest orgy of sorts.

And that sounds kinda gross and undesirable, at least to me.

Dull_Spot_82132026-01-17 01:09

Takopi is no where near a “classic”level entry that could stand the scrutiny of time. It’s, at best, a novelty of its year, and maybe baby’s first dark themed show for a young crowd. It didn’t have a strong ending either. Lots of shows enjoy short bursts of fame, but there’s a reason why the big names transcend generations. Frieren I can see meeting that mark.

Salty1452026-01-17 01:17

*Takopi*’s ending is a little weak, sure, but that production is unironically up there with the best of them.

If we get more adaptations of shorter works in non-typical TV or film lengths, it will be because of the doors *Takopi* and *Look Back* opened.

Dull_Spot_82132026-01-17 01:27

Production doesn’t mean a lot if your story doesn’t have staying power. It’s just, “well that looked cool.” That’s not why the “classics” are remembered. It’s a facet of what makes shows popular, but a memorable story is going to carry over regardless of aesthetics. Lazarus and City: The Animation may have great production, but they’re niche in appeal.

Rotorscope2026-01-17 01:58

Keep in mind that this is because you just didn't personally connect with Takopi.

For me personally it's absolutely a classic level entry that stands the scrutiny of time with an incredibly strong ending, story, and masterclass levels of production that isn't just flashy but rather greatly contributes to the themes and emotions displayed in the show.

The only thing that makes something a "classic" is sheer popularity. Hence why Demon Slayer will be more of a classic in 10 years than something like Apocalypse Hotel, even though the latter is 10x better and more unique.

Dull_Spot_82132026-01-17 02:31

No, I don’t need to connect with a show to recognize when something is good. There’s plenty of shows, even classics that I don’t care for, but are undeniably great. Akira didn’t do much for me personally but that is as much a part of the cultural classics as anything. Takopi is not on the level of an Evangelion, Dragonball, or even Attack on Titan. In ten, fifteen years people may cite Frieren, Demon Slayer, or Jujutsu Kaisen as the classic heavy hitters of their time, because they have the level of popularity to expand beyond niche interest into mainstream appeal. I may think The Summer Hikaru Died is the best show of 2025, but that doesn’t mean it will enjoy the same popularity or be as widely remembered or regarded as Demon Slayer, which had box office levels of success with the highest grossing film.

Rotorscope2026-01-17 03:03

I mean whatever your rubric for scoring a show is, my point is that your personal opinion of a show doesn't determine whether it becomes a classic. Most shows, even great ones, are forgotten, so quality isn't really a good determination of whether something is a classic.

Personally Takopi is a masterpiece and many people agree with me, so it definitely could because at least a cult classic amongst some circles of the more invested side of anime fandom.

Donnie-G2026-01-17 02:18

I personally think Frieren will fade, but time will tell. I read the manga and I just think the source material has been meandering for a long time already, not to mention the constant hiatuses don't really help.

Also with accessibility to stuff these days, I think collectively people just move on and forget things a lot quicker. Accessing and watching an anime back in the 90s was a more difficult thing to do, and so those shows tend to stick to the psyche of people. I won't name them but there are a lot of 90s shows that are perpetually vaunted as classics which I don't think deserve to be.

pachipachi71522026-01-17 02:38

>Also with accessibility to stuff these days, I think collectively people just move on and forget things a lot quicker.

Yeah, there's so just so much stuff out there that things aren't going to stick as much. That's fine really, the monoculture doesn't need to come back. I don't see why people can't just find their own little spaces and be content with that. Sure, HibiMeshi wasn't a smash hit, but it's still going to be remembered in SoL circles, and that's fine enough by me.

Dull_Spot_82132026-01-17 03:03

I’m not really interested in making a value judgement on what “deserves” to be a classic, because that’s an exercise in futility, and you can’t will something to be popular or unpopular anyway. It either is or it isn’t. I’m more interested in what actually sticks over the decades and why.

When I was a kid, Pokemon and Spirited Away were the box office hits. For my younger family members it’s now Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen. I Don’t think either are “better”, personally, than a lot of my more niche interest shows, but I would call Pokemon a classic all day long. A lot of people are going to recognize Pikachu. Something like Takopi will never have the same reach. And that’s fine. We live in a fast paced entertainment cycle where only a few shows break out to that level of cultural significance, but it’s kinda always been like that if you really look back at what released every year.

cppn022026-01-17 13:49

> I just think the source material has been meandering for a long time already

The two arcs after the current season are absolute fan favourites. As long as future seasons (or possibly movies) keep coming in the not so distant future and the quality of the adaptation stays high I don't see its popularity waning any time soon.

Donnie-G2026-01-17 14:36

I'm not specifically sure which arc the anime is at and which you are referring to(I just don't think of them numerically), but I'm thinking of the Golden City arc which I feel the second season should approach or cover, but maybe I'm wrong.

I really hated that arc and thought that was basically when things went downhill.

cppn022026-01-17 15:01

> the Golden City arc

The current season should end right before that.

>I really hated that arc and thought that was basically when things went downhill.

That's cool and all but you're definitely in a minority there.

Emi_Ibarazakiii2026-01-17 01:53

*Guy who drove one good car in 1990 then 10 shitty cars and then someday drives another good car in 2026: "Wow, this is the best car ever!"*

[](#awe)

qwertyqwerty45672026-01-17 02:30

The best way I can describe Takopi is the 2020s Another. Now granted, I dont think Takopi is anywhere near as comedically terrible as Another, but it really does feel perfectly aimed at the /r/im14andthisisdeep phase of growing up.

And, of course, it's production is stellar, disappointingly so.

I've seen this sentiment that the ending was "weak" get thrown quite often by people, yourself included, but I just didn't have that experience. I'm not gonna say the ending was a masterpiece, because it wasn't, but what it was, was perfectly in line with the rest of the story and my expectations.

Without spoiling anything, in my personal experience the moment I saw episode 3 I knew where the story would end, since there was only 1 plot thread and 3 episodes left to go. The only surprising part for me was episode 5 being way edgier than my expectations.

Salty1452026-01-17 02:48

I should clarify, my issue with the ending wasn't as much how it concluded its story as much as how it did it being sort of rushed and clunky in places. That was also something I kind of figured would happen around Ep. 3-4 to the point where I went and read what was left of the manga after Ep. 5 just so I could be a productive member of society for that last week. The anime cleaned it up a bit, but it was still just a bit sloppy for my tastes.

>it really does feel perfectly aimed at the [r/im14andthisisdeep](https://www.reddit.com/r/im14andthisisdeep/) phase of growing up

No, that was *Clevatess* /s

For as much as I rag on a lot of shows, I will at least defend *Takopi*. It is maybe a little overly gratuitous in places, but I think it is only through that that it can make its broader themes stick.

I guess it varies by person, but I've always interpreted "I'm 14 and this is deep" to either be presenting things everyone else figured out years ago as some massive revelation that shows how smart you are or confidently asserting a truth in the world that is obviously false to anyone with lived experience. It usually applies to content that says "the world sucks and people suck and emotions exist only to exploit the good-willed and foolish". Hachiman at the start of *Oregairu* is what I imagine these people are like.

That said, I don't think *Takopi* clears that bar. It does use its shock to drive the narrative instead of just for the sake of it, and it's hard for me to also say that its thesis is "the world sucks" when the ending says basically the opposite.

Like I said, you could *maybe* tune it down a bit in places, but overall it is still a fairly decent story.

That or I am 14.

qwertyqwerty45672026-01-17 03:24

maybe /r/im14andthisisdeep isnt the most correct term compared to something like "I want a mature anime", but it was what came to mind first and they are kind of close in terms of vibe

[](#yuishrug)

> I should clarify, my issue with the ending wasn't as much how it concluded its story as much as how it did it being sort of rushed and clunky in places

I can definitely see it as the sort of manga that got canned after the first volume and had to find an ending asap, before suddenly getting popular later down the road. Dunno if its true, but I can definitely see an angle where there could have been way more to it, but wasnt.

> It is maybe a little overly gratuitous in places

Just to be clear, I dont think it being gratuitous drags it down at all, if anything it does add to the experience. I just think it carries the show way more for other people than it did for me.

I just didnt find the story all that good, and I said it could be because it got axed, but it can also be because the author didnt know where to go after exploring the juxtaposition between takopi and the girls.

Salty1452026-01-17 03:50

From what I remember, the manga was pretty popular when it first was releasing. It could have been a case of Shueisha experimenting with *Jump+* and so they green lit a shorter series (which is why it didn't run for all that long) mixed with an author that could write ideas and not great conclusions (many such cases). This was their first work on a series before, there was bound to be hiccups.

Jusenkyo_52026-01-17 02:51

I wonder how much of it is the anime fandom having changed and how much is actually due to what's coming out.

I won't say there's zero classics from 2016 to 2026 as there's still shows like ReZero that manage to persist, but before maybe 2012 the idea of a "seasonal anime fan' just didn't really exist in a large enough number.

Now you've got people watching 20-30 shows every season just to watch them and conceptualizing them as "seasonals". By the time you move onto the next season you've already mentally moved on and the world has largely moved on.

There will always be the JJKs of the world that continue on, but I feel like the "middle class" of anime has been wiped out.

As far as older anime being better, I think it's a little bit of it both actually being better and also being able to pull from 40+ years of fantastic anime.

Salty1452026-01-17 03:09

>I wonder how much of it is the anime fandom having changed and how much is actually due to what's coming out.

I mean I ultimately have no data other than my own thoughts on the matter. My assessment is that most of this is driven by severe recency bias. I'm sure others will disagree. So be it.

>I won't say there's zero classics from 2016 to 2026 as there's still shows like ReZero that manage to persist, but before maybe 2012 the idea of a "seasonal anime fan' just didn't really exist in a large enough number.

Seasonal anime really only starts to manifest in the West around the mid-2010s when ease of distribution becomes such that such a standard can even exist. Seasonal dubs would take even longer. The first simuldub didn't release until 2014 with *Space Dandy*, which was designed from the ground up to try to connect with the burgeoning foreign market. *One Punch Man* S1's dub released almost a full year after the sub aired, and *Re:Zero*'s S1's dub took two years to release and came out in a two-part box release.

>Now you've got people watching 20-30 shows every season just to watch them and conceptualizing them as "seasonals". By the time you move onto the next season you've already mentally moved on and the world has largely moved on.

Anime has certainly become a more social hobby. I think Gigguk put it best: the nature of the fandom has gone from being based on "what you have watched" to "what are you watching". On one hand it does severely lower the barrier to entry and is more welcoming to newcomers. On the other, it sort of erases that sense of having a list of canonical series that you have to watch to really be taken seriously. There's pros and cons to that approach, but one noteworthy con is that if something isn't airing or has a new season in the works, it is swiftly forgotten by the seasonal churn.

>There will always be the JJKs of the world that continue on, but I feel like the "middle class" of anime has been wiped out.

That's a pretty good way of putting it lol. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

>As far as older anime being better, I think it's a little bit of it both actually being better and also being able to pull from 40+ years of fantastic anime.

There's a much longer discussion to be had on whether anime as a whole is better or worse than it once was, and it usually does take a little more than watching the 5 best shows of the 90s and saying its all been downhill sense. That being said, in this context I'm more talking about it on an individual level, so you'd be comparing individual entries with one another instead of whole eras.

Jusenkyo_52026-01-17 03:21

>On the other, it sort of erases that sense of having a list of canonical series that you have to watch to really be taken seriously. There's pros and cons to that approach, but one noteworthy con is that if something isn't airing or has a new season in the works, it is swiftly forgotten by the seasonal churn.

This is a great way of putting it. I wonder how many people even care about "being taken seriously" at this point lol. I've made it a point to delve into classic anime over the past 5-10 years and I'm nowhere close to running out. I don't think you need to have seen Oishinbo and Mazinger Z to be in the know, but I can't imagine having not seen Evangelion.

>There's a much longer discussion to be had on whether anime as a whole is better or worse than it once was, and it usually does take a little more than watching the 5 best shows of the 90s and saying its all been downhill sense.

I've always had the idea to pick a handful of old seasons and new seasons and watch 100% of anime in it to compare them. It would have to be a year + long project so I haven't done it, but purely from anecdotal evidence I can't imagine either the total number or ratio of good to bad is better today than it was in the 80s.

>Seasonal anime really only starts to manifest in the West around the mid-2010s when ease of distribution becomes such that such a standard can even exist. Seasonal dubs would take even longer. The first simuldub didn't release until 2014 with *Space Dandy*, which was designed from the ground up to try to connect with the burgeoning foreign market. *One Punch Man* S1's dub released almost a full year after the sub aired, and *Re:Zero*'s S1's dub took two years to release and came out in a two-part box release.

I also wonder how much dubbing mattered back then. I watched shows like Sword Art Online and Attack on Titan as they aired in sub, and I remember kids at school showing me One Punch Man in sub and they were never really "anime fans". It obviously made a major difference in how quickly anime spread, but it was well on it's way before simuldubs came with every single anime.

Also don't take anything I said as a negative, I'm just chatting with you lol.

Salty1452026-01-17 03:44

>I wonder how many people even care about "being taken seriously" at this point lol. I've made it a point to delve into classic anime over the past 5-10 years and I'm nowhere close to running out. I don't think you need to have seen Oishinbo and Mazinger Z to be in the know, but I can't imagine having not seen Evangelion.

Funnily enough the answer is a lot and not a lot. It's a bit weird. There is a *ton* of interest in posturing in the Shounen Wars to justify why your show of choice is objectively better than the others. Pretty much everyone with a YouTube channel or TikTok page are trying to justify you listening to their opinions as authoritative. They'll watch all of one kind of anime or flex how much they watch in a year for views to peacock why you should trust them. However, the people that want to be "taken seriously" in terms of their actual expertise and knowledge and who want to put in the work to do that out of genuine curiosity are a dying breed.

I don't necessarily mind the new system. The old one does require a lot of homework and led to an extensive amount of gatekeeping that becomes untenable. I mean if that list of canonical series grows more with every passing year, than someone jumping in has a lot to catch up on before they even reach the starting line. The new way allows you to jump in from the get-go and so is more welcoming. That being said, everyone still ends up trying to posture themselves as an authority and there's this air of confidently spewing nonsense because doubt is a sign of weakness (see how many people seem to confidently assert that *Bleach* shouldn't be part of the Big 3).

>I've always had the idea to pick a handful of old seasons and new seasons and watch 100% of anime in it to compare them. It would have to be a year + long project so I haven't done it, but purely from anecdotal evidence I can't imagine either the total number or ratio of good to bad is better today than it was in the 80s.

Yeah, it's quite a bigger task than people give it credit for. I am almost done personally with watching every 1985 anime OVA (at least of those on AniList) and will probably write up my thoughts when that's complete. From my experience, the answer as to how things have changed is a bit more complicated. The raw amount of good anime has certainly gone up as more anime are being produced yearly than they were in the 80s or 90s.

The ratio is a little more iffy. Without calculating "hard" numbers (using my own heavily subjective data set anyway), it probably stayed relatively consistent through the 80s, dropped through the 90s, rose again in the 00s, before dropping again through the 2010s and 2020s. I don't think the amount of truly elite shows has really grown much over the last 20 years, despite the number of series being released growing exponentially, though without "hard data" this is just conjecture.

R3invent3d2026-01-17 00:59

I need some recommendations for someone entirely new. I am 30 and have recently given anime a shot, starting with AoT, Gundam 00 & 86. I've found these quite enjoyable, however other entries have fallen flat. I didn't like the first episode of Jojo, I didn't like Gundam WfM...

I'm mature, so things like politics, scheming, wars & conflict or characters who are more mature seem to interest me more. I'm not interested in anything that's target demographic is for children (i know AoT is listed as being for younger people, but I found the themes much more mature than what is advertised), nothing with a high school theme is preferred, that's just something that I personally am not interested in and certainly aged out of.

So does anyone have suggestions? Lastly, I'd prefer something that isn't considered mature because it's just really graphic, not really into shows that just use graphics as shock factor, but doesn't have a decent story etc.

VelaryonAu2026-01-17 01:21

> things like politics, scheming, wars & conflict

You'll not find an anime that embodies these concepts more than Legend of the Galactic Heroes, either the original or the still in progress remake versions would fit this role.

R3invent3d2026-01-17 01:37

thankyou

CerberusZX2026-01-17 01:34

>nothing with a high school theme is preferred, that's just something that I personally am not interested in and certainly aged out of.

There's a sort of subgenre commonly referred to as "cute girls doing cute things" (CGDCT) which is primarily watched by adult men, and it's not for any sort of pervy reasons. They are relaxing, and people like to relax after a stressful day at work. Most of these have a high school setting. Part of this is that it's a shared experience; a lawyer might not be able to relate to a banker, but they can both relate to having been in school. The other part is that their memories of school life are likely to be significantly less stressful than the work that is currently stressing them out, and the schools depicted in these anime are especially laid back and low on drama.

Anyway, recommendations for things not set in a school:

[Steins;Gate](https://myanimelist.net/anime/9253/Steins_Gate) is a great sci-fi drama with a bit of mystery.

[Heavy Object](https://myanimelist.net/anime/27829/Heavy_Object) is a pretty good sci-fi action series about foot soldiers trying to stop super tanks.

[86](https://myanimelist.net/anime/41457/86) is a sci-fi action series about a nation sending its undesirables off to war against AI forces.

[The Apothecary Diaries](https://myanimelist.net/anime/54492/Kusuriya_no_Hitorigoto) is set in a fictional Imperial Court. The protagonist is tasked with assisting in solving mysteries, often leading to political drama.

[Yatagarasu](https://myanimelist.net/anime/56980/Karasu_wa_Aruji_wo_Erabanai) is a fantasy series in which a talented young man is forced to serve a shunned prince and gets wrapped up in political drama.

R3invent3d2026-01-17 01:39

Thankyou very much, 86 I watched and my wife and I loved it. Really, really solid.
Everything else I will check out.

CGDCT sounds exactly like something I'd never watch. But I appreciate you elaborating on it.

TehAxelius2026-01-17 01:44

> CGDCT sounds exactly like something I'd never watch. But I appreciate you elaborating on it.

Plenty of people have said that, then they say "I'll just watch the show about girls competing against other high-schools in tank battles for the historical details". It's a slippery slope.

R3invent3d2026-01-17 01:51

Yeah that wouldn't interest me either. I don't buy into the whole "anime girl" thing, not to diss it for anyone, just not my thing.

I'm only interested in Anime at the moment like any other tv show etc, for the story / setting, like any other cartoon or prime-time show.

Gamerunglued2026-01-17 08:59

>I'm only interested in Anime at the moment like any other tv show etc, for the story / setting, like any other cartoon or prime-time show.

I think that's the case for most people for CGDCT shows too, and the majority of anime fans overall. Most CGDCT series are sitcoms. The one they mentioned (Girls und Panzer) is a sports comedy series. I do not consider "anime girls" the appeal of very many anime, my favorite anime is a CGDCT show which I love for being a really poignant and relatable coming-of-age story as well as an excellent sitcom, and would enjoy all the same if the characters were boys. CGDCT shows, and the vast majority of anime, are the same as any other cartoon or prime time show. Don't let cuteness distort your impression. Not to say you have to enjoy them or want to see a high school setting, but really these series are like a Seinfeld or That 70s show in that they're not about much but the chemistry between the cast. The aesthetic appeal of anime girls is a bonus for those who care, with a few rare exceptions.

Heda-of-Aincrad2026-01-17 01:56

Definitely check out Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans. It has a lot in common with Gundam 00 and Attack on Titan.

R3invent3d2026-01-17 02:01

Plan to work through the Gundams, I enjoy the sci-fi premise.
I was shocked by Witch from Mercury. The Prologue was fantastic... and then the show turned into a highschool drama, with none of the tropes I was expecting from the other entries I've watched. Turned it straight off ha ha...

Heda-of-Aincrad2026-01-17 04:37

How far did you watch into Witch From Mercury? It does get more into the sci-fi/war themes in the second half. The prologue is one of its strongest episodes for sure though. I enjoyed it and it was actually my first Gundam series, but I'd rate Gundam 00 and Iron-Blooded Orphans higher.

Jusenkyo_52026-01-17 02:43

Are you open to non-action series?

The 1979 Anne of Green Gables anime is a 10/10, nothing else really feels quite like it.

R3invent3d2026-01-17 03:21

Yes Thankyou! Doesn’t have to be action, would even watch a show that’s just dialogue if interesting enough

Jusenkyo_52026-01-17 03:22

If you're not willing to go all the way back to the 70s I'd also recommend something like Odd Taxi for a quick high energy anime and something like Monster for a more serious slow burn.

Wanderingjoke2026-01-17 02:55

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

mekerpan2026-01-17 03:12

Check out *The Genius Prince's Guide to Raising a Nation Out of Debt*. If a story like Beauty and the Beast, but with reasonably interesting political science and sociology, there's *The Sacrificial Princess and the King of Beasts.* If a supernatural mystery series set in an imperial court setting like ancient China is of interest, there is *Raven of the Inner Palace*. If you want a sort of similar story and setting, but with somewhat more action (and violence), there is *Yatagarasu*.

Salty1452026-01-17 01:31

I generally don’t include sequels in my year-end lists unless they really surprise me, and I’ve been thinking about what *Frieren* S2 could do to reach that level, and my answer is…

Honestly, I’ve got nothing. I’m down to be pleasantly surprised, but my biggest issue with S1 was that Cour 2 existed. S2 being more of Cour 1 would be optimal, but then that’s not really surprising enough to justify a placement, now will it?

Yes I do start thinking about these things way earlier than I should.

IXajll2026-01-17 10:32

> I generally don’t include sequels in my year-end lists unless they really surprise me

Why not? Why put a higher barrier of entry for them just because they’re sequels? Makes no sense to me.

Salty1452026-01-17 13:10

Cause at the end of the day I want my list to reflect the shows that I feel left the biggest impact of a given year, and sequels can get messy there. Another season of an 8/10 show or an 8/10 season of a show with a 9/10 first season would be on the list by the raw numbers, but doesn’t leave me with much to really say *or* worse leaves me with a sense that “yeah that was good, but the original was better” which is never something you want to be saying on a celebratory list such as this.

[deleted]2026-01-17 02:14

[removed]

[deleted]2026-01-17 02:17

[removed]

chilidirigible2026-01-17 02:33

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TheBigIdiotSalami2026-01-17 02:37

Trigun 1998 is so good it's got me watching the Italian 1966 anime Django.

vancevon2026-01-17 02:41

[scum's wish is actually certified peak yuri because] >!two girls have sex with each other in it, please don't think too much about the context or what happens before or after thank you!<

PsychoGeek2026-01-17 04:35

I wish we'd had Akane and Hanabi as well, peak hatesex missed out on

king_sulkman2026-01-17 02:52

Fine. What’s yalls recommendations for bromance animes

AmethystItalian2026-01-17 03:28

Ore Monogatari had a good one

vancevon2026-01-17 10:41

can't believe you'd betray umehara and tachibana like this smh

Nomar_952026-01-17 03:39

Romeo's Blue Skies

theangryeditor2026-01-17 03:59

Buddy Complex

Dull_Spot_82132026-01-17 04:22

Sk8 The Infinity. Just bros skateboarding.

alotmorealots2026-01-17 04:24

https://myanimelist.net/anime/48997/Fantasy_Bishoujo_Juniku_Ojisan_to

Also: https://old.reddit.com/r/anime/comments/1qegev4/cosplayed_%C3%BCbel_for_frieren_s2_hype_im_a_guy/

cyberscythe2026-01-17 06:49

i liked My New Boss is Goofy for a chill domestic bromance and a healing vibe

PsychoGeek2026-01-17 07:36

Berserk is a bromance. of sorts.

NoHead17152026-01-17 08:49

Brave Bang Bravern!

qwertyqwerty45672026-01-17 03:30

[yuri meido dreams shattered](https://cdn.imgchest.com/files/5f7ee095d12b.jpg)

theangryeditor2026-01-17 03:58

Maybe I'll move up Hikaru no Go on the backlog

[](#schemingsaten)

qwertyqwerty45672026-01-17 04:01

*Holy shit, some TEIS news finally*

> We will deliver an update on the movie on March 29th

*...*

[](#bruh)

Appropriate_Check4052026-01-17 04:37

yuru yuri is really good, please watch

alotmorealots2026-01-17 05:29

I certainly will at some point!

mr_beanoz2026-01-17 04:49

I wonder how popular is this show right [here](https://myanimelist.net/anime/2705/Bakusou_Kyoudai_Lets___Go) for a rewatch. Maybe someone could host one for a 30th anniversary.

baquea2026-01-17 06:48

An obscure four-cour (twelve-cour, including sequels) kids show from the 90s? I can't see many people being interested.

mr_beanoz2026-01-17 06:50

Maybe it's obscure in the States, but for those who grew up with Tamiya's mini 4wd cars at around the early 2000s, it's a pretty memorable series, especially in Asian countries.

Emi_Ibarazakiii2026-01-17 09:04

Gonna throw it out there, a rewatch for this show would likely have 0 (zero) people.

>it's a pretty memorable series, especially in Asian countries.

Pick 100 people at random in r/anime, I'm pretty sure there won't be a single one who knows that series.

(If you thought the Tsubasa rewatched struggled, this one would be even worse; At least Tsubasa is a known thing. This one isn't).

fakegreenthumb2026-01-17 04:50

animate already had a naoya zenin acrylic stand so of course i bought it. do i need more acrylic character stands? no but if i see pretty boy i must buy, thats the rule

Durinthal2026-01-17 05:38

[Bean Counter **Episode 2**](#utahapraises)

This episode could have been titled like a Chuck Tingle novel, [e.g.] >!Consensually Pounded in the Butt to Familiarize Me with This Other World's Magic.!<

Vindex1012026-01-17 07:28

More like [Bean ep2] >!consensual railing just so I can proceed to kill myself more with overtime work!<

Yesshua2026-01-17 06:24

I treated myself to Little Witch Academia today and I think that show is good. It's more about the pictures than the story, but that's allowed when the creators know what they're making and keep scripts simple and charming. This show was great at that.

I would also specifically like to call out hot guy Andrew. There are So. Many. iterations on "hot prince/hot noble/hot son of a powerful CEO" and they all look the exact same. This show's hot member of the elite was ACTUALLY hot. Every other fantasy/romance type show should be stealing this design. Like, it's only been 2 weeks but does anyone remember what the love interest prince looked like in May I Ask for One Final Thing? Or Pass the Monster Meat? Or any show about a saintess? They're so interchangeable! They should all be stealing hot Andrew.

bandannadann2026-01-17 06:28

So glad Tis Time for "Torture," Princess is back. I can't really put my finger on it but something about that show puts the biggest, dumbest smile on my face from beginning to end. Ruri Rocks was the same way. Two small, comfy shows that really nail the good vibes. I gave the first season a 9/10 and honestly I wouldn't be surprised if the second season gets the same score at this rate; Pine Jam clearly puts a lot of love into this one

entelechtual2026-01-17 08:31

It’s so good even though on paper there’s no reason it should work as well as it does.

Not only does the animation go all out, but for me the voice acting is so immersive that you never even consider they’re repeating the same gag. Haruka Shiraishi absolutely kills it as Himesama.

bandannadann2026-01-17 17:13

>repeating the same gag

The gag is a winner. All the gags here are. All you have to do is vary up the execution just a little bit and it hits every single time (Princess will succumb, Hell Lord will cackle over worthless info) and in the meantime my heart is melting due to the adorable character antics lol

AnimeMod2026-01-17 12:15

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