I’ll apologize for both the lateness and brevity of this season check-in post – as with the preview it’s a concession to the demands of reality. Better late than never, hopefully it provides at least a snapshot of where I am with this season.
In brief, Spring 2018 is a mother of an anime schedule (as spring often is). It’s not exactly awash with masterpieces – I don’t see anything out there that’s a serious AOTY contender in a decent year – but there are a bunch of shows a notch below that. And even more in those “watchable” to “very good” categories – I’m at close to 20 series which are strong enough to at least consider blogging. That’s a ton at any time, and at this particular time too many. When the year-end lists are compiled Spring is probably going to be pretty well-represented, even if it isn’t at the top.
At least we can say that at the moment, anime is delivering plenty of quantity. Which is, of course, the trend of recent years – we’re seeing so many shows produced that in spite of the sheer number of formula throwaways, we usually get a fair number of decent series. What we’re not seeing as many of, for certain, are truly great ones – as the risk-aversion of the production committee system discourages their production. For the moment at least, that’s the status quo.
Onward, then, to Spring 2018:
The Elite
None
Outstanding
Boku no Hero Academia Season 3
Episodes Watched: 4
Grade: A-
Comments: Strap in, we haven’t even started yet.
Megalo Box
Episodes Watched: 3
Grade: A-
Major 2nd
Episodes Watched: 4
Grade: A-
Golden Kamuy
Episodes Watched: 4
Grade: A-
Comments: Forget about the damn bear.
Stein’s;Gate 0
Episodes Watched: 4
Grade: A-
Very Good
Hoozuki no Reitetsu 2nd Season: Sono Ni
Episodes Watched: 4
Grade: B+
Comments: Hasn’t quite caught fire with that killer episode yet, but just about every season has worked that way.
Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii – 03
Episodes Watched: 3
Grade: B+
Piano no Mori
Episodes Watched: 4
Grade: B
Gegege no Kitarou (2018)
Episodes Watched: 4
Grade: B
Comments: Another golden oldie gets a stellar revival.
Tada-kun wa Koi wo Shinai
Episodes Watched: 4
Grade: B
Hinamatsuri
Episodes Watched: 4
Grade: B
Koneko no Chii: Ponponra Dairyokou
Episodes Watched: 4
Grade: B
Worthwhile
Jikken-hin Kazoku – Creatures Family Days
Episodes Watched: 3
Grade: B
Wakaokami wa Shougakusei!
Episodes Watched: 3
Grade: B
Gurazeni
Episodes Watched: 4
Grade: B-
Full Metal Panic: Invisible Victory
Episodes Watched: 3
Grade: B-
Captain Tsubasa (2018)
Episodes Watched: 3
Grade: B-
Still Watching
Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu: Die Neue These – Kaikou
Episodes Watched: 4
Grade: B-
3D Kanojo: Real Girl
Episodes Watched: 3
Grade: C+
Gundam Build Divers
Episodes Watched: 4
Grade: C+
Comments: One of the best OPs of the season.
Rokuhoudou Yotsuiro Biyori
Episodes Watched: 3
Grade: C+
Binan Koukou Chikyuu Boueibu Happy Kiss!
Episodes Watched: 3
Grade: C
Dropped:
Hisone to Masato, Shokugeki no Souma: San no Sara – Toutsuki Ressha-hen, Tokyo Ghoul:re, Kakuriyo no Yadomeshi
So with that, here’s this season’s daunting blogging prospectus:
Monday:
On the Respirator: Captain Tsubasa (2018)
Tuesday:
Definitely Blogging: Golden Kamuy,
On the Respirator: 3D Kanojo: Real Girl
Wednesday:
Definitely Blogging: Steins;Gate 0
Thursday:
Definitely Blogging: Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii, Megalo Box
Probably Blogging: Tada-kun wa Koi wo Shinai, Jikken-hin Kazoku: Creatures Family Days
Friday:
Probably Blogging: Hinamatsuri, Gurazeni
On the Bubble: Full Metal Panic: Invisible Victory
Saturday:
Definitely Blogging: Major 2nd, Boku no Hero Academia Season 3
Sunday:
Definitely Blogging: Piano no Mori, Yowamushi Pedal: Glory Line
Probably Blogging: Gegege no Kitarou (2018), Wakaokami wa Shougakusei!
Manga: Otoyomegatari, Hunter X Hunter (hiatus)
Watching For Now: Koneko no Chii: Ponponra Dairyokou, Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu: Die Neue These – Kaikou, Rokuhoudou Yotsuiro Biyori, Gundam Build Divers, Binan Koukou Chikyuu Boueibu Happy Kiss!
Say
May 3, 2018 at 7:54 amI am just curious what was the reason to drop Kakuriyo no Yadomeshi. It is not that original (the opening song is similar to Hakuouki and the misunderstanding about Aoi’s grandfather reminds me a poor version of Natsume Reiko’ s ambivalent behaviour), I agree, but it is watchable… what have I missed?
Guardian Enzo
May 3, 2018 at 7:58 amHonestly just found it kind of boring. Didn’t hate it, just did nothing for me.
Miyu Fan
May 3, 2018 at 8:07 amOh wow and here I thought that there will be one elite series for you this season – I thought Megalo Box or Golden Kamuy will at least made the cut for you.
Anyway yeah this season seems to have a lot of very good series to watch, with all the new sequels/adaptations upcoming I see that for 2018 until 2020 we will be showered with a lot of good anime.
Guardian Enzo
May 3, 2018 at 8:16 amAny of the outstanding shows still might make the jump -it’s definitely possible.
justfun
May 3, 2018 at 8:17 amWhile none of them might be great, there are a lot of really good shows – and to me this makes the season as a whole rather great. Some series like Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu, Megalox Box and Steins Gate 0 will probably grow on me the longer I watch them.
Matti
May 3, 2018 at 5:51 pmStill watching;
Megalodon Botox (with retro on the side)
Lupin III – Part [I can’t be bothered to count anymore]
Working Otakus Spearfishing for Koi (which is supposedly hard)
Dropped;
Tada-kun Takes Bland Photos of Koi
Not-Fumoffu Metal Picnic
Stuck to manga version;
Golden Bear Wrestling
Amanchipmunks (because that’s what the anime voices sound like)
Not bothered;
Everything else.
ROBERTO SALAS
May 3, 2018 at 6:49 pmWHAT HAPPENED WITH RANDOMC.NET?
I CAN NOT ENTER
BEST REGARDS
Guardian Enzo
May 3, 2018 at 9:03 pmHard drive failure at the server. Last I heard, expected to be back up in a couple of days.
Earthlingzing
May 3, 2018 at 8:43 pmI’m curious why Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu is that low… For me its probably because it hasn’t made that emotional connection with me yet, though I fully expect that to change in the next few episodes.
Guardian Enzo
May 3, 2018 at 9:04 pmIt’s fine… Nothing about it feels urgent or inspired to me, just solid and modestly engaging. It’s very proper and respectful, maybe a bit too much.
Ronbb
May 3, 2018 at 9:39 pmWow, this is a huge list. Digest posts or short blurbs are still good, or even just series summaries. You have a daytime job, and do take time and enjoy living there. Take care.
kittyraider
May 4, 2018 at 3:09 amHmm, its surprising that you dropped Hisone to Masotan outright. I see you’re not really impressed with it, but seems there’s something that ticks you off?
Stefan
May 4, 2018 at 5:40 amOK, since this is a very busy time for you, and I don’t want a mass extinction to happen*, I’ll say this: When HxH restarts, I really hope you won’t jump from the last chapter you reviewed directly to the new one, in terms of posts! See if that’s possible in the future.
*I define mass extinction as the series put on hold during crowded times which don’t survive those times and are forever forgotten. Since you’ll definitely read HxH, in this context I mean “forgetting to post about the chapters already published”, for example chapters 340-349!
Guardian Enzo
May 4, 2018 at 5:57 amManga are suffering for me, in terms of blogging. Otoyomegatari is the best manga in the world right now and I have two chapters I haven’t had time to cover. I’ll write about those H x H chapters as a block at some point, but no promises as to how quickly once Togashi restarts.
leongsh
May 4, 2018 at 7:45 pmI am rooting for you to cover Gurazeni on a regular basis. No one else I know in the English anime blogging world is. The most recent episode (Episode 5) should be catnip to you.
Yualexius
May 7, 2018 at 3:57 amGolden Kamuy had been a great surprise for me while Boku no hero Academia 3 is definitely on top of my list. Tokyo Ghoul:re had been a tolerable ride on my end for now though I feel it’s a bit dull.
Guardian Enzo
May 7, 2018 at 5:08 amMy rope has run out with Tokyo Ghoul, I’m afraid. I don’t have to patience for it any more.