2017 and 2018 Anime
If you haven't watched the 1997 series of Berserk, do yourself a favour and check it out. The most 90's anime ever, from the grunge soundtrack to the ultraviolence. The 2016 reboot is just awful by comparison. Thankfully, the current decade of anime also has plenty of fantastic shows, as surveyed in my first post (2010 - 2015) and second post (2014 - 2016) of reviews. This post will highlight my favourites from the 2017 and 2018 anime seasons.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime (Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken) 8bit, Fall 2018
Also known as TenSura, this is an isekai series with a difference. The slime is commonly portrayed as the weakest monster in JRPG games, but Rimuru Tempest (the titular protagonist) is seriously OP. A middle-aged salaryman is reincarnated as an asexual slime, who then takes on the physical appearance of a cute anime girl. Xe unites the monster races in the Forest of Jura to form a new nation, establishing diplomatic relations with the neighbouring dwarven and human realms, as well as dealing with threats from demons and the like.
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai (Seishun Buta Yarou wa Bunny Girl Senpai no Yume wo Minai) CloverWorks, Fall 2018
More in the realm of magical realism than the other entries on this list, this is a story set in a contemporary high school about a group of friends who investigate the supernatural "Puberty Syndrome" that effects some of the students. Less flashy than the Monogatari series to which it is often compared, this series is the perfect mix of melancholy and sweet. Nowhere near as ecchi as the title might suggest.
Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san (Gaikotsu Shotenin Honda-san) DLE, Fall 2018
A hilarious series of 10-minute vignettes about a popular manga bookstore in Tokyo, like the Japanese equivalent of Our Valued Customers.
Goblin Slayer White Fox, Fall 2018
A grimdark fantasy anime with wildly inconsistent tone. In the first episode, it attempts to outdo the third Berserk movie with a gratuitous rape scene, but then the episodes that follow are light and humorous. This series is an acquired taste, to say the least.
Yuuna and the Haunted Hot Springs (Yuragi-sou no Yuuna-san) Xebec, Summer 2018
A comedy harem anime about an exorcist who lives in an onsen with an assortment of supernatural characters: a ghost, an oni, a ninja, and a cat girl.
Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody (Death March kara Hajimaru Isekai Kyousoukyoku) Silver Link, Winter 2018
Yet another isekai harem anime, with nothing to really distinguish it. If you've already watched KonoSuba, Overlord, TenSura and Isekai Quartet, then this might tide you over until something better comes along. The most interesting part is the titular "death march" in the first episode, which is a reference to the book by Ed Yourdon on mismanagement of software development projects.
Made in Abyss Kinema Citrus, Summer 2017
An absolutely gorgeous fantasy series about young children who live at the edge of the world's largest megadungeon. Combines the cuteness of Studio Ghibli with the horror and ultraviolence of Berserk or Parasyte. Looking forward to the series of movies, which will hopefully continue this amazing story.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime (Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken) 8bit, Fall 2018
Also known as TenSura, this is an isekai series with a difference. The slime is commonly portrayed as the weakest monster in JRPG games, but Rimuru Tempest (the titular protagonist) is seriously OP. A middle-aged salaryman is reincarnated as an asexual slime, who then takes on the physical appearance of a cute anime girl. Xe unites the monster races in the Forest of Jura to form a new nation, establishing diplomatic relations with the neighbouring dwarven and human realms, as well as dealing with threats from demons and the like.
Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai (Seishun Buta Yarou wa Bunny Girl Senpai no Yume wo Minai) CloverWorks, Fall 2018
More in the realm of magical realism than the other entries on this list, this is a story set in a contemporary high school about a group of friends who investigate the supernatural "Puberty Syndrome" that effects some of the students. Less flashy than the Monogatari series to which it is often compared, this series is the perfect mix of melancholy and sweet. Nowhere near as ecchi as the title might suggest.
Skull-face Bookseller Honda-san (Gaikotsu Shotenin Honda-san) DLE, Fall 2018
A hilarious series of 10-minute vignettes about a popular manga bookstore in Tokyo, like the Japanese equivalent of Our Valued Customers.
Goblin Slayer White Fox, Fall 2018
A grimdark fantasy anime with wildly inconsistent tone. In the first episode, it attempts to outdo the third Berserk movie with a gratuitous rape scene, but then the episodes that follow are light and humorous. This series is an acquired taste, to say the least.
A comedy harem anime about an exorcist who lives in an onsen with an assortment of supernatural characters: a ghost, an oni, a ninja, and a cat girl.
Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody (Death March kara Hajimaru Isekai Kyousoukyoku) Silver Link, Winter 2018
Yet another isekai harem anime, with nothing to really distinguish it. If you've already watched KonoSuba, Overlord, TenSura and Isekai Quartet, then this might tide you over until something better comes along. The most interesting part is the titular "death march" in the first episode, which is a reference to the book by Ed Yourdon on mismanagement of software development projects.
Made in Abyss Kinema Citrus, Summer 2017
An absolutely gorgeous fantasy series about young children who live at the edge of the world's largest megadungeon. Combines the cuteness of Studio Ghibli with the horror and ultraviolence of Berserk or Parasyte. Looking forward to the series of movies, which will hopefully continue this amazing story.
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