Upcoming Anime Season: Winter 2023

[KrayZ33]

I started watching Hyouken no Majutsushi ga Sekai wo Suberu... whatever that means.

I expected nothing and did at least get a good laugh out of it - not because I laugh at it since it's so poorly made (it is, actually) but because some jokes were so absurd, I couldn't help but laugh.


that's just awesome. Come on - I never even THOUGHT about how a mask would look on a guy that has trained his muscles so hard, that he is no longer as small as the normal population in his country.
Is this what happens when Arnold would go to Japan and buy a normal sized mask there?
And I'm not sure if they even are actual subs to what they are saying but they are awesome as well.



Not to mention that the excuse MC uses as to why he is the freaking awesome dude that can do everything "I trained in the backwoods forests" is not only funny, but could actually work for real for most questions asked so far. And when it didn't work, him being surprised about it felt actually like a normal reaction due to how reasonable it sounds all the time.


As for what the show is actually about:
I would say it's similar to "Tenchi Muyo! War on Geminar" so far... but without mechs and less ecchi, instead its a bit more like "Mahouka Koukou no Rettousei" but much more "funny" than that one. And less well animated than both of them.
But to it's defence, the way the teacher explained the "matter" involving magic was kinda awesome.

[DarthEnderX]

Is this what happens when Arnold would go to Japan and buy a normal sized mask there?

Well, no. Because your head and face don't really change size, no matter how much you work out.

[KrayZ33]

I guess it was a joke about the "Abenomask"

[Ryllharu]

Tondemo Skill de Isekai Hourou Meshi was better than I expected it to be. As long as stupid-skill isekai don't take themselves seriously, they aren't too bad.

There seems to be an overabundance of dull and uninspired "slow life" isekai anime this season, and the only one that hasn't been outright trash is this one. The writer actually thought about what would happen to a character with abilities like shopping from an online grocery, having appraisal skills, and item box inventories where ingredients don't spoil in it.

Tomo-chan wa Onnanoko is just as painful as the original single-page chapter manga. The same gag repeated a billion times, and main characters who aren't as likeable as the side characters.

Oniichan wa Oshimai is...something that simultaneously makes me feel like I should be in jail for watching it, but also surprisingly wholesome and endearing. Shockingly smooth animation there.

[MFauli]

Hikari no Ou:

That was nice. At first I feared the artstyle would be too artsy, but the actual character designs are fine. Very mysterious, unpredictable story, reminds me a bit of Fumetsu no Anata e. This together with Ooyukiumi no Kaina really makes for a great season.

As for the episode: Fuck all, why do they have to be so mean to the girl?! Also, I'm curious what the narrator means when she keeps saying "people were remade so they can't go near fire without burning up from the inside". Was there some godly interference that reshaped people? Is magic involved? A disease? Something else? I hope that question is answered sooner rather than later.

Going by the opening, there should be some exciting fighting scenes, too. For now I'm gonna keep watching.

PS: This anime's title is a perfect example of why you never should translate Japanese based on its Romaji reading. I had only seen "Hikari no Ou" and, ofc, interpreted "Hikari" as "light". When I saw the title screen, it was the "Hi" from "fire" and "kari" from hunt", however. Just thought it was an interesting observation.

[MFauli]

Skipped through episode 2 of Nier Automata. Towards the end when the group of humans appears, it felt different compared to the game. I'll decide with episode 3 how I'm gonna continue.

[MFauli]

Watched Tomo-Chan is a girl episode 1.

The whole premise falls kinda flat for me, because she is a super shot tomboy girl. The guy simply is gay or something lol. At first I thought "hm, maybe she got a boyish body", but then they revealed her boobs and female body shape and there really was NOTHING boyish about her. So ... this story makes no sense. Not sure I'm gonna watch more.

[Kraco]

Watched Tomo-Chan is a girl episode 1.

The whole premise falls kinda flat for me, because she is a super shot tomboy girl. The guy simply is gay or something lol. At first I thought "hm, maybe she got a boyish body", but then they revealed her boobs and female body shape and there really was NOTHING boyish about her. So ... this story makes no sense. Not sure I'm gonna watch more.

Most anime rely on something that is a stretch. Jun is not supposed to see Tomo as a girl because they grew up together from young age, and back then Tomo was more of a boy (stereotypically speaking) than any real boy in the neighbourhood. It's not like Jun wouldn't now see she's a girl, he has a working pair of eyes, but he wants to keep her as his best friend and do with her things they have always done, which might not be very feminine, but that's Tomo's own fault.

But sure, that's how the show is. If you feel like it wasn't for you, there's no point in watching it.

[Ryllharu]

Tensei Oujo to Tensai Reijou no Mahou Kakumei is pretty fun. It feels more like the 'Rise of the Eccentric/crazy Inventor Relative in a Fantasy' series than an isekai or villainess redemption series (and it lightly acts as both). The original description sounded cliche and lame, but it really is centrally focused on, 'the crazy aunt/uncle who spurned their right to the throne in order to focus on their research,' rather than the kind of shitty "weakest skill became the strongest art" garbage that they keep making trash anime of.

Her main goal is improving the lives of the entire kingdom down to the commoners, so it's more like an economics villainess series, except she gives absolutely no shits about her reputation.

Senbongi Sayaka really sells the lead's charm, like she does in most series she leads.

The yuri vibes are counterbalanced with comedy about it, like Lycoris Recoil, but I'm gonna guess it goes past where that got.
edit: The novel/manga is listed as yuri, so...yeah.

[DarthEnderX]

[MFauli]

Was Nier Automata delayed? LiveChart wont show when the next episode airs anymore.

[Ryllharu]

[Mother's Basement video]

I like his reviews to see if there's anything I missed, but man, he miscalled this particular season (and the last one) pretty badly.

Was Nier Automata delayed? LiveChart wont show when the next episode airs anymore.

Covid-19 strikes again, allegedly.

[DarthEnderX]

I like his reviews to see if there's anything I missed, but man, he miscalled this particular season (and the last one) pretty badly.

I just like his vids. I don't expect accurate takes after just a couple episodes.

[MFauli]

Ok, I don't know what's going on with me, but I need more anime despite already watching 15 shows or so this season lol. Since 3 episodes have been aired for most shows, can you guys recommend the must-sees?

My Top 3 right now would be:

- Ooyukiumi no Kaina
- Tondemo Skill
- Nonbiri Isekai

No sequels!

[Ryllharu]

Personally, I think it is very poor season compared to last season where I'm still finishing off the series I was watching.

But, to answer your question, the level of isekai is quite good this season.

- Rougo ni Sonaete Isekai de 8-manmai: Fairly savvy and socially manipulative dimension hopping lead. She's aware of what attention she could bring by wreaking havoc on two world's economies and operating with some level of discretion and care lest she out her own capabilities, much like Tondemo Skill.

- Tensei Oujo to Tensai Reijou no Mahou Kakume: The yuri reincarnation/isekai series of the season. It has a nice overall feel to it, more like Ancient Magus' Bride than an isekai, though it certainly plays with all the tropes in an interesting way. There's well-executed themes of royal politics and social standing, like the best of the reincarnation/villainess manwha out there. The premise description seems really dumb, but I talked about it enough a few posts up.

- Tondemo Skill, like you mentioned, and similar to Rougo ni Sonaete Isekai de 8-manmai.

Nonbiri Isekai is straight-up trash. It has its very vocal defenders, but it is one of the worst examples of wish fulfillment isekai I've seen in a while. Relentless Exposition in lieu of competent writing.

On the other side of trash where it is trashy to the point that it should be watched (e.g. Qwaser, HSotD, Keijo!!, Queen's Blade), is Oniichan wa Oshimai. Ethically bankrupt, morally dangerous, bizarrely wholesome, and legitimately the best animation of the entire season. Fluid, detailed, and utterly over the top (edit: it's the Mushoku Tensei studio)
It's skeezy without being disturbing fetish-centric "technically not CP" anime (i.e. Kenja no Deshi and its obsession with loli bathroom use). With strong elements of Do-over series, it falls closer to ReLIFE than it does loli anime. But yeah...I feel kind creepy watching it, but it is wholesome in a character development way if nothing else.

I'll get around to Ooyukiumi no Kaina eventually.

[MFauli]

Final watched Hikari no Ou episode 3.

Episode 2 was really boring, I actually fell asleep towards the end, although I was really tired that evening lol.

Episode 3 was a lot better and the story should truly start going with next episode. It's not the immediate masterpiece I thought at first, but there's still potential.

[MFauli]

We don't seem to have a thread for Tsurune, eh. I'm actually enjoying this 2nd season much more than the first. Although episode 4 was reeeeally convenient. Had that competition not ended in a draw ... well ...

[Kraco]

I watched all of the seven eps out of Mononogatari. It has quite a lukewarm temporary average score on AniDB, and that doesn't surprise me. It's like an amalgamate of all the various tsukumogami and onmyouji series out there. In fact it feels like the author watched Tsugumomo and decided to borrow much of it, except for all the lewd stuff since in seven eps Mononogatari has had zero fanservice. There's also loose details that reminds me of Tokyo Ravens and others.

Nevertheless, while it's no masterpiece, it has been quite solid, even if unsurprising in any manner. The characters aren't bad. The male MC has a very focused, single-minded personality, which I can appreciate and which has been quite funny so far. The initial cast right off the bat is quite large, but it feels like every one of them is an individual. I can't say the story would be super exciting and I don't really understand what it is that I should be expecting eagerly, but on the other hand, it also doesn't feel like there would be any filler.

I guess I could make a thread for this, but we are past the halfway point of the season already, so maybe it would be pointless.

[shinta|hikari]

It's one of my favorites this season. Hyoma is strong and capable, and Botan is cute. It has the makings of a very good long running shounen story.