happy new year!

I didn't get to watch as much anime as I usually do last year, it was very front loaded because the back half of the year I was pretty drained and sick

But I still watched a lot

Winter, for the third year in a row was my favourite season - again, and Spring the least so you know if they could just toss a couple of good shows into the spring you know?

That would really help me get through spring

Going back to my spreadsheet to find the standouts

I really enjoyed The Foolish Angel Dances With The Devil despite it being objectively not the best anime out there, but man when it comes to junk food it was my junk food

High Card's second season didn't quite match the first but the ending was pretty good and for an anime only original, it did pretty well

I watched both seasons of MASHLE last year and thoroughly enjoyed them and I cannot wait for season three. Mash is great, but I'm a bit of a sucker for deadpan protagonists

I don't care how much everyone loved Dungeon Meshi it didn't resonate with me.

A Sign of Affection was one of the cutest shojo series last year and I found it mostly adorable

Solo Leveling made a huge splash and although it was one of the last things I watched in winter it was right up there with the best of the season and I'm super stoked about it getting a second season

Probably the most fluffy feel good anime of the year that I watched was Mr. Villain's Day Off and I would actually love more of that if we can get lucky.

Doesn't have much of a plot, but what plot it does - I'm interested

7th Time Loop came out of nowhere and blew me away - it's not my genre, at all, but damn if it wasn't good

The Unwanted Undead Adventurer is definitely in my top ten of the season and I'm thrilled it's getting a second season. For an in-depth character study - I wasn't expecting it to have the legs to get more of it, but I am so glad it did.

*of the year

With Ishura season 2 on the horizon in just seven days, I have to say season 1 took such interesting risks with their character introductions and set ups but man was the pay off worth it.

Brave Bang Bravern is a must watch for everyone who loves 90s nostalgia and a lot of homoerotic subtext. I've already said too much .

Meiji Gekken 1874 was severely underrated and for a more adult title with a lot of violence and as a historical piece it was really interesting. I would've liked to get more of this world but I don't think it's meant to be

Off-season titles that captured my heart included My Hero Academia which mostly got binged in spring, but I started it in the winter, Hunter x Hunter which is actually a new one for me - Vinland Saga which despite a slow start really picks up and hits all the kinds of story beats that I find interesting and engaging

Also notable binge - Classroom of the Elite which I devoured 3 seasons in two days.

Bring on season 4.

Spring season brought me Gods' Games We Play which I think had a stronger start than the end of it, but it's clearly set up for further stories/seasons so we'll see how that winds up doing. I haven't heard anything about subsequent seasons coming though

Unnamed Memory fit the shojo title I enjoyed nicely, and although people complained about the pacing, I didn't find it to be a problem? It's another show that has season 2 starting in a week and the couple here has an interesting dynamic.

I found Hey! Tonbo to be a great character study in the first season (and I haven't seen season two yet, that was a fall title and I need to catch up)

It's a real good look at loss and unfulfilled dreams

While I watched more seasonal shows - a lot of them kinda dragged on and I didn't like them that much or they weren't terribly memorable. Some I didn't finish which is the biggest flaw this year, but I have plans to finish most of these this year.

The last show I watched and really enjoyed this year is the Ranma 1/2 remake, whipped that up last week when I had a break in my current round of colds and shenanigans and it's really good. Highly recommend it

I would've liked to finish more this year in the end, but it didn't turn out that way. Here's hoping this year will be better.

Usually I ask for more recs, but I actually still have a list from the last time I asked

But! If anyone has recs, leave them here, I'll add them for 2025

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy New Year!