Anime Worth Watching from 2018

Man, 2018 was definitely a year. Did you ever have one of those years where you feel like you are a completely different kind of person by the end of it? 2018 was that kind of year for me. Not just for political reasons, but because of how fast the year went job and school wise as well. I guess I am done with my Master Degree now. When did that happen? Still, nobody is here for this kind of reflection. Let’s talk about some anime that came out, because that is what everyone is here for.

There was a lot good anime that came out this year. So many that I have to try to narrow down this list a little bit. Because of that, I don’t feel like talking about My Hero Academia Season 3 or Attack on Titan Season 3, because I liked them a lot and I feel like those are obvious watches from how popular they are. Other long running franchises that need more attention need to be brought up. Why? Because those are extremely underrated.

Other notes:

-A lot of these rankings will change quite a bit from when I originally watched them this year and that is because of how they stick on my mind since I originally watched them.  That doesn’t mean I didn’t like all of those that are forgotten.

-My one rule is that the show has to be finished to appear on this post. For example, No JoJo’s Part 5 yet. It only finished one cour out of three right now, so I can’t judge the show as a whole right now.

-From Winter 2018-

March Comes in Like a Lion S2

I love this franchise.  I have written a lot about it for a reason. It’s not just an anime about shogi, it’s about a character named Rei making it his way through depression by figuring out that he does have a family. Also, the bully arc with Hinata was amazingly characterized. Every single character feels realistic because of the amount of perspective on each of them. This show is so good.

After the Rain

I remember complaining about how the good direction and detail butting put into characterizing these people was taken away from Ancient Magus Bride. Yeah, I can’t do that anymore. This show is so much better and well put together. Also, I love the bait and switch stuff. This was a not romance that happened when Akira suffered a leg injury and became attracted to this older man that seemed more well put together, but really wasn’t. The show is about these two finding out about each other to figure out how to live out their own lives. I love this show so much.

Devilman Crybaby

OH wow was this show such a huge surprise for me. I thought it would be like one of those obscure 80’s OVAs with a lot of blood and death. It was, but there was also an interesting exploration of humanity as well. I know that the ending was of putting, but it was incredibly memorable.

A Place Further then the Universe

The more time I spent away from this show, the more I’ve thought about it. It’s such a wonderful story of our characters learning more about themselves and how to be friends as they make their way to harsh winter wonderland called Antarctica. The emotions are real the characters are real as well. Also, the most emotional scene this year comes from a girl reading some emails.

Runners Up from Winter 2018:
-Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens
-Ancient Magus Bride
-Takagi-San
-How to Train a Mummy (First Vote for Cutest Thing in Anime this year)

-Spring 2018 Anime-

-Hinamatsuri-

Do you like hijinks with Mafia members and crazy psychic girls from another dimension? Do you like watching these psychic girls grow in different ways to become more emotionally competent then we ever end up being? Do you like shows with plenty heart and comedy with perfect art and animation for each of these situations? I think I might have something for you.

Golden Kamuy S1

I am going to consider each season of Golden Kamuy different, because I have different feelings for both of them. Season one was such a fantastic world building season with great chemistry between the main cast. Asirpa, Sugimoto, and Shiraishi build off each other and we even learn a lot of interesting parts of Ainu culture in cooking and everything. Besides some questionable visuals and animation, it’s wonderful stuff.

Aggretsuko:

What a wonderful work-based comedy with a great dose of heavy metal thrown in. The very fact that all of this is works with Sanrio cartoon animal characters is amazing. It’s just good stuff.

FMP: Invisible Victory

If you loved the other seasons of Full Metal Panic, boy do we have something for you. It has some of the comedy and all of the heart break and drama from the other parts of the franchise. The annoying part is The Second Raid at least left off on a good note. This show just opens up the franchise and needs a conclusion now that we will probably have to wait a decade for. Yup….

Runners Up from Spring 2018:
-Wotakoi
-Megalobox
-FLCL Progressive
-Legend of the Galactic Heroes (2018)

-From Summer 2018-

Planet With

Holy crap, I was not ready for this show. It’s such a well structured and well-paced mech show that can take what other mech shows do in 50 episodes in put it in twelve with almost no problems at all. I highly recommend all mech fans watch this one because it’s like a breath of fresh air.

Lupin the Third: Part 5

This one started started in the spring, but ended in the summer, which is why it’s here. Also, as a noob Lupin fan, I am beginning to love Lupin more and more as time goes on. Especially this one because it’s a lot more thoughtful and sentimental while also being incredibly well written. It’s stand alone, so it’s a good starting point if you want to check out some Lupin.

Asobi Asobase

Want to watch a funny show centered around teenage girls being teenagers and kind of horrible? What about some of the best facial expressions in anime all year? Here you go.

Cells at Work (Second Vote for Cutest Things This Year)

The most fun and unique show of the year. All the cells in the body and the infections that come into the body are characterized in different ways. Each week or sometimes ever other week when shows are two partners are full of such unique and interesting ways to show how the body works and fights on infections when it can. It’s good stuff.

Runners up from Summer 2018:
-Angolmois
-FLCL Alternative
It was a lacking season

-From Fall 2018-

Bloom Into You

This is my first yuri anime and this one is kind of amazing. I love how complex and interesting the leads are and how the direction behind the show is amazing with so many eye dropping scenes. If this is how Yuri is like all the time, maybe I need to watch more.

Run With the Wind

I haven’t been into a lot of sports shows either, but Run With the Wind definitely has my attention. Mostly because it’s college aged people, which provides such an interesting dynamic to this how thing. This group of ten guys are so well characterized and wonderful that they would make any show interesting.

Thunderbolt Fantasy Season 2

Yay, my Urobuchi Wuxia murder puppets are back and better then ever. Now with more complicated stories, dragons, and explorations of different elements of philosophy. Man, I love how crazy this show is.

SSSS.Gridman

Well, it’s a show about a giant robot man beating up different sorts of monsters. What isn’t to love when it comes to that? Also, the story boarding and direction is absolutely wonderful show in this will. I also love how fully realized the show is character wise, though not all of them are perfect. It’s such a fun cool down show when it’s not being all dramatic.

Runners up from Fall 2018:
-Double Decker
-Tsurune
-Golden Kamuy S2 (It’s a big lacking compared to Season 1, but still solid)

——–

And that was the year when it comes to season anime for me. I know that missed out on a lot of shows, but I don’t have all the time in the world to watch shows. Especially when I am watching older shows alongside season shows. Maybe I will go back to watch some stuff that I missed in 2019. Maybe not.

Speaking of older shows, check out my list on the older shows that I watched coming tomorrow right here. Thanks for reading, everybody!