I now live closer to my anime addict friend, so I’ve been watching a lot more anime than usual lol. I’m a casual basic bitch anime fan. My top 5 is something like Frieren, DBZ, FMA/B (switch shows in the middle), Outlaw Star, Death Note.
For some of these I’ve only seen a few episodes, so I’m sorry if I give a bad review before getting to the good episodes.
Frieren
(seen 38 episodes)
I’m obsessed. Already seen all 38 episodes many times over lol. This show has some kind of sick pattern of breaking your heart and then healing it over and over again. It really excels at everything: slice of life, character writing, animation, music, action scenes (though infrequent), even the voice acting is great in both Japanese and English. This show can introduce a character and turn them into a fan favorite in record time. Every time there’s a post here asking for suggestions I have to hold myself back from responding with Frieren because I realize you guys are mostly bigger anime nerds than me and obviously know the most popular ones lol. 11/10 can’t wait for October 2027
RE: Zero
(seen 2 episodes)
I didn’t feel this one, and the characters felt cringe. I’m sure they grow over time but for now 4/10
Hellsing Ultimate
(seen 2 episodes)
I don’t think the writing or directing is great, except this show oozes style, Alucard is extremely cool. 7.5/10 I’ll probably watch more of this. And then I get to watch Abridged lol.
Jujutsu Kaisen
(seen 8 episodes)
This one is really cool, amazing animation. Character writing seems like it might be a slight weakness, like the conflict between the classes seemed a bit forced. 7.5/10
Solo Leveling
(seen 7 episodes)
Alright I actually hate this one lol. Animation is good, but I don’t like anything else. It’s like if you took One Punch Man and removed all the comedy, side characters, creativity, and Saitama’s personality. I’m sure the fights get good at some point because the animation is very good, but I need more than just action anyways. Even very action focused shows like DBZ have a lot more going for them. 1/10 sorry I know SL is really popular.
The Kingdoms of Ruin
(seen 2 episodes)
This seems like it might be good. It’s kinda overly dark just for the sake of being dark. Hard to judge the character/dialog writing at this point 6.5/10
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure
(seen 26 episodes)
I knew this was gonna be goofy and over the top, but I didn’t expect it to also be really good. As over the top it is, it’s actually good writing and overflowing with creativity. 9/10 and next you’re going to say that Solo Leveling deserves a better score.
Fist of the North Star (2026)
(seen 9 episodes)
I wasn’t super familiar with the original but of course I knew “you are already dead” and had seen some clips. Don’t even bother with the English dub for this, gotta go with the Japanese. It’s mostly over the top fun. The CGI takes some getting used to, it’s not great but it’s fine. 5/10 it’s fun enough.
Daemons of the Shadow Realm
(seen 12 episodes)
I’m a huge fan of Fullmetal Alchemist, so I was hyped for this one. It’s good but actually kind of a let down at least in comparison. The hook isn’t nearly as strong, and most episodes don’t have much direction or any satisfying resolutions. The characters are pretty good, and the fights are good but not top tier. The English dub is good. 7/10 but I’ll definitely at least finish the season because I trust Hiromu Arakawa-sama.
One Punch Man season 3
This one is a bonus round because I was following it on release late 2025. What an utter failure of an adaptation. The only enjoyment I got out of this season is the qualities it lifted directly from the webcomic/manga. It’s hard to believe someone could take a golden IP like this and not give it the respect it deserves. It’s disrespectful to the art, but also just a really dumb business decision? As hard as the anime tried to ruin this season for me, I guess I’ll still give it a 5/10. Season 1 was a 10/10, season 2 was like an 8/10
Witch Hat Atelier - Fun, I’m halfway through. ~7/10.
Marriagetoxin - Meh, felt a bit cringey for me. 2 episodes. I’ll try again at some point. 2/10.
Spy X Family - Fun, seen all of it. 7.5/10
Natsume’s book of friends - A few cringe points, teen drama. Enjoyed it though. 7/10. A lot of monstor of the week similar to Muishishi / The X-files.
One punch man season 3, what a dissapointment, 1/10
I guess there’s a few different ways to review it. I gave it points for the story, characters, and comedy.
This one is really cool, amazing animation. Character writing seems like it might be a slight weakness, like the conflict between the classes seemed a bit forced. 7.5/10
The characters are the best part about the writing in JJK. In that the writing is terrible in general.
Haha yeah I guess there hasn’t really been anything notable. Cool stuff happens, but I can’t think of any good dialog or themes, and barely any interesting plot points. Maybe I was too kind in the review, but I do enjoy horror.
And then I get to watch Abridged lol.
Abridged is just legit better than the original. Not even close.
this isn’t as surprising as it should be lol
The original is worth it, if only for the full context of abridged.
I’m with you on solo leveling. It’s all style and no substance
The real reason I made this post is so we can hate Solo Leveling together (just kidding, sort of)
happy cake day!
I liked Solo Leveling, but… your description of it is totally accurate, hahaha!
I’ve heard that a show that just started airing is kind of like solo leveling, but with actual characters… Tomb Raider King. I haven’t started watching it yet, so can’t say if it’s any good, but it seems interesting!
actually a good idea to make something similar to SL but fixing the common complaints lol, SL is so popular they could make good money
This along with Re:Zero and OPM3, you have a good eye for bad anime lol. If you want another stinker for some ungodly reason, check out Eren the Southpaw.
LMAO thanks I guess
Check out Apocalypse Hotel, Dan Da Dan, Witch Hat Atelier and Mushi-shi (of coruse).
Seconding Apocalypse Hotel, absolutely phenomenal.
Witch Hat has been on my list for a while yeah. I’m trying to give it some space after Frieren, but maybe in a few months
You said of course on Mushi-shi but I hadn’t heard of that one lol
Mushi-shi is incredible. One of my favorites. I envy you a bit, getting to watch all of these awesome shows for the first time. Welcome!
Mushi-shi is quite a few years old now, but it’s found its way onto a lot of ‘best of’ lists for the stellar tone that it maintains. Wonderful and mysterious, but never withholding. No grand narrative arc; each episode tells its own story, which is rare these days. Give it an episode or two and you’ll get the vibe.
I’d been aware of Jojo since the '90s, but I never got into it until accidentally watching just one episode: Battle Tendency #16, “The Birth of a Superbeing.”
I think Tokyo MX was running the first season again due to Stardust Crusaders starting up that April.
I was just channel hopping and happened to catch it right at the start, but I was hooked immediately.
After that I watched season one from the first episode, then re-watched it once Stardust Crusaders was done… and then re-watched it 2 more times.
We’re on our 5th re-watch right now and I can’t say for sure that there won’t be more after this -_-;
It’s so good! It takes serious skill to write something that goofy without ruining the quality or taking the viewer/reader out of it.
The 90s? I didn’t realize the manga was that old
Edit: oh there are OVAs too
Kingdoms of Ruin is so dark that it comes close to flipping over into parody (I mean, even before you hit the sex-bot episode). Nastiest thing I’ve seen since Magical Girl Raising Project. Don’t get attached to any of the side characters, because their survival rate is extremely low. Also, if I recall correctly, the female lead is pretty much a cardboard cutout of a saint. And the anime ends without completing the story, and I doubt that there’s going to be another season.
So I’d maybe put that one down at the end of your priority list. If you want something darkish and violent, maybe seek out Dorohedoro instead (second season just ended, third will probably be along in a year or two).
Kingdoms of Ruin is so dark that it comes close to flipping over into parody
I felt this too lol
the anime ends without completing the story
big oof
Subaru is definitely cringe but that’s kind of the point as one of the better parts is him growing as a person
Yeah I expected that, although he wasn’t my only issue with RE:Z, and I didn’t like the other characters either.
Don’t let them fool you! I saw all first season (20-something eps), anm while it’s true he ends up growing a bit, it’s not much, or at least so it was to the point I saw. Not sure if it’s even worth it to have to endure 20 episodes just to get to “the good part”.
I’ve been able to resist One Piece, I can resist RE:Z
2 episodes frankly isn’t enough for any of the qualities of Re:Zero to be apparent. Subaru starts out as an ass and it’s an important part of his character early on. His shitty behavior is basically the sole cause of the first actual character defining arc
Yeah 2 episodes definitely isn’t fair. Maybe I’ll try another few. Although I don’t want to get stuck like One Piece fans saying you need to watch at least the first 100 episodes lol
The episode that got me hooked is episode 15 but to avoid spoilers all I can really tell you right now is that the first arc or two is somewhat typical isekai bs in that Subaru thinks and acts as though he’s a Mc in one of those stories. In doing so he humiliates himself among other things. In short it’s not a story about some dude who gets isekaid, has checkpoints and gets everything he wants.
If you are just meh on Re:Zero try get to episode 15 at least, that’s the best episode of season 1 imo and episode 18 puts up some serious competition.
That’s good to know but idk if I’ll make it that far. Not that I don’t believe you, but I have a lot of other animes I could be watching instead.
If it helps at all for the most recent season nearly every single episode made me nauseous just in how the plot was unfolding. Like to avoid spoilers first you have beloved characters doing things they never would normally do, and dying gruesomely for it, and then like always only Subaru remembers what he, and the others did and has to continue forward despite that.
If you want to spoil yourself here’s a clip of the primary scene I’m talking about
that sounds like it fits my expectations from what I saw with the groundhog day type stuff
sorry I don’t think this one is for me
I’m surprised no one jumped on my review of Daemons lol
