Four Spring 2018 Anime You Need to Watch

The end of the Spring 2018 anime season has come and gone and it blessed us with a ton of great anime! So I am here to tell you about the shows I thought were the gems of this last season. I started out watching fifteen shows and by the end I was still watching nine of them. That is unheard of for me! This last season has been one of the best anime seasons I've seen in many years. And while I can go on and on about all the shows you should be watching like the third season of My Hero Academia (OMG! MY FEELS!), I want to discuss these four new first season anime and why you should go binge them all right now.

 

Kakuriyo- Bed and Breakfast for Spirits

 Kakuriyo is the only two cour anime that made this list so the second half of the season is still airing throughout the summer. THIS SHOW IS AMAZING! To quote my friend, Nikki: "it's like a mix between Natsume's Book of Friends, Kamisama Kiss, and a comfy cafe anime". And I haven't heard a better description yet! I've been captivated each week watching Aoi work hard to find her place at Tenjin-ya while paying off her Grandfather's debt without marrying the Master Innkeeper, Odanna. What really sets this anime apart is the large cast of characters that run the inn and their interactions with each other. We learn about a new character each week as we slowly see Aoi come into her own and it is glorious! The plot isn't too shabby either and has kept me on the edge of my seat this whole season. I love what this show is doing with the "arranged marriage to pay off x family member's debt" trope! And I'll be honest, I totally ship Aoi and Odanna! Kakuriyo will definitely be one of my favorite animes of 2018.

Watch on Crunchyroll.

 

Yotsuiro Biyori

Yotsuiro Biyori was this last season's surprise gem and it was a goddamn delight! I had my heart stolen by it and it earned a permanent spot on my Animes I'll Perpetually Rewatch for Comfort list. Who would have thought my favorite anime of the Spring would be about four guys running a tea shop? It's the most chill anime ever! The premise sounds too simple to be an engaging anime but it's SO good! It's a very character driven show about people who get a lot of joy and satisfaction from pleasing their customers. And I found it super relaxing to watch! Although, it made me super hungry with all the anime food porn. I seriously don't think there was an episode I watched that I didn't come out of it hungry for Japanese food. It's also a show that will leave you all happy and smiley after watching an episode.

Watch on Crunchyroll.

Hinamatsuri

 OMG! Guys! Hinamatsuri surprised the hell out of me with how good it was! I never knew I needed an anime about a Yakuza becoming the caregiver of a girl with telekinetic powers and the shenanigans they get into with other psychic girls. It sounds weird but it's SO good! And funny! And oddly heart-warming! It's very much a character-driven anime and I loved the characters so much! Each psychic girl has their own personalities and part of why the show is so funny and endearing is because of how they interact and play off of each other. Hina is great and Anzu has my heart! I can't recommend this one enough!

Watch on Crunchyroll.

Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku

Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku was one of my most anticipated animes of the spring season and it did not disappoint! It gave me serious Recovery of an MMO Junkie vibes but with different kinds of otaku and not just gamer otaku. I loved it! It was also great to see a romance anime set outside of high school and I found so much about it super relatable. And I laughed so much while watching it! The characters are great and loved their interactions with each other and how they tried to hide their otaku side from people outside of their little group! And I totally ship all of the established couples in this plus the one pairing that hasn't been confirmed yet. Plus, the opening credits were glorious! I NEED A SEASON TWO!!! I want to see more otaku shenanigans and learn more about the characters espcially Kou and Nao!

Watch on Amazon Prime. 

Thoughts on 2018's Spring Anime Premieres, Part 2

In case you missed yesterday's post, I did terrible about keeping up or even starting anime last season. So to motivate myself to start all the anime I'm interested in this season, I decided to write a post that turned into two about my thoughts on the first episodes of each show. There's so many I want to watch this season! For the most part, I can tell by the end of the first episode whether I'll like an anime or not. I've only found a couple I'm meh on so that makes me happy! So today I'm talking about the second set of premieres I watched and what I thought of them.

Yotsuiro Biyori

 Premiered: April 10th on Crunchyroll

Guys! Yotsuiro Biyori is the most chill anime ever! It's about four guys running a tea shop and that's the whole show. It sounds too simple but it's SO good! Plus, it's super relaxing to watch! Although, it made me super hungry with all the anime food porn. 😅 And three of the main characters are voiced by the actors who voice Victor Nikiforov, Midoriya Izuku, and Nozaki-kun! This anime made me super happy and I can't wait to watch more of it!

Space Battleship Tiramisu

Premiered: April 2nd on Crunchyroll

I really wanted to like Space Battleship Tiramisu, but this anime is just not for me. For such short episodes (~7 mins), the animation is great and the mechas are cool but that's where my appreciation for it ends. The humor and the main characters grated on my nerves. I'm not going to continue with this one.

Butlers X Battlers

Premiered: April 11th on Crunchyroll

Butlers X Battlers was... something. Overall, the episode was pretty meh till the last few minutes. It was a poorly executed episode for a premiere not to mention confusing. I'm a bit disappointed because the premise sounds so cool. The characters were interesting. The main character comes off as kind of a dick but the other characters seem cool especially Holmes, Watson, and Hikari. I'll give it another episode or two to catch my attention before I give it up.

Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku

Premiered: April 12th on Amazon Prime

Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku was one of my most anticipated animes of the spring season and the first episode was so great! It gave me serious Recovery of an MMO Junkie vibes but with different kinds of otaku and not just gamer otaku. I loved it! The characters are great so far! And I already kind of ship one of the romances. I'm really excited to watch this one this season and learn more about the characters! Also, the opening credits were glorious!

Caligula
Premiered: April 8th on Crunchyroll

Okay. I'll be honest. I'm still not 100% sure what Caligula is about but I'm totally intrigued after watching that first episode! It's looking like it's going to be a sci-fi/horror psychological thriller and a bit of a mindf*ck set around "the world is not as it seems trope". And I'm totally here for it! I can't wait to see what happens next!

Libra of Nil Admirari

Premiered: April 8th on Crunchyroll

The first episode was mostly setup but I can tell that I'm going to dig Libra of Nil Admirari. It has cursed books and it really embraces that it's a reverse harem anime. That end credits was something else. 😅 The characters look like they're going to be fun. Plus, I'm really interested to see where they go with the story. I'll definitely be continuing this one!

So that's all for my anime premiere thoughts posts! I wasn't able to get to Dragon Pilot: Hisone and Matosan and Last Hope (Juushinki Pandora) because Netflix doesn't have them uploaded yet. I'll be posting my impressions for both of them in my Spring Anime Twitter Thread if you want to see what I think when I do get to watch them.

What shows are you watching this season?

Thoughts on 2018's Spring Anime Premieres, Part 1

Okay. I did terrible about keeping up or even starting anime from the winter season. I’m going to try to do better at watching anime this spring season and not just rewatch old favorites.. *cough* Yuri on Ice *cough*

So to motivate myself to start all the anime I'm interested in, I decided to write a post that turned into two about my thoughts on the first episodes of each show. There's so many shows I want to watch this season! For the most part, I can tell by the end of the first episode whether I'll like an anime or not. I'm hoping that this season will be a good one for anime after the many disappointments of the fall season. So here is the first set of premieres I watched and my opinions on them.

Tada Never Falls In Love

Premiered: April 5th on HiDive 

Okay. I'll be honest. This anime wasn't even on my radar until my friend, Nikki, mentioned it on her Twitter. I'm so glad I checked it out! I'm all in after just the first episode. It was freaking adorable! I can already tell that it’s going to be one of my favorites this season. I’m intrigued about the characters and can’t wait to learn more about them! Especially Teresa! I have some theories about who she is and I can't wait to see if any of them are right.

PERSONA5 the Animation
Premiered: April 7th on Crunchyroll

PERSONA5 the Animation is a lot of my anime and gaming friends' must watch anime of this season. Personally, I haven't played the game this is based on yet so I don't know much about the story line. I was a bit confused in parts but it has definitely pulled me in. I'm intrigued to see where it is going and I want to know more about the characters. Plus, the animation style while a bit flashy is still pretty cool. I'll definitely be continuing on with this one.

My Hero Academia Season 3
Premiered: April 7th on Crunchyroll, Hulu, and Funimation

Honestly, I was going to watch season three of My Hero Academia whether the first episode was good or not. It was this weird mash-up of a recap and a pool party but oddly enough it worked. I'm so excited for this season! I'm definitely all in!

Dances with the Dragons
Premiered: April 5th on Crunchyroll

I'm conflicted on this one. The first episode was pretty meh but I'm intrigued by the premise. The anime promises to be this futuristic sci-fi dragon hunters show mixed with some political intrigue. I'm going to give it a couple more episodes before I call it quits but I wasn't impressed with the premiere.

Kakuriyo: Bed & Breakfast for Spirits
Premiered: April 2nd on Crunchyroll

This is another anime I hadn't heard about that my friend, Nikki, informed me of. The first episode was SO good! I'm all in! This show so far seems to be a mix of Kamisama Kiss and Natsume Yujin-cho and I am here for it! I've already watched the second episode and it has just gotten better! I can tell that this one is going to be a season favorite for sure!

Hinamatsuri

 Premiered: April 6th on Crunchyroll

OMG! Guys! Hinamatsuri surprised the hell out of me with how good it was! I never knew I needed an anime about a Yakuza becoming the caregiver of a girl with telekinetic powers. It sounds weird but the first episode was SO good! And funny! And oddly endearing! I think it will be a favorite this season!

My Sweet Tyrant
 Premiered: April 6th on Crunchyroll

My Sweet Tyrant is a bit weird and has really short episodes (~3.5 mins) but I liked the first one enough to continue on with it and see where it goes. I'm all for animes with weird relationship dynamics.

So that's all for today's post! Check back tomorrow for more of my thoughts on this season's anime premieres! There's lots of good ones this time!

Rose Red's Beginner's Guide to Anime, Part Three

Woo! Welcome to the last and final part of my Beginner's Guide to Anime! Today, I'm talking about all of the anime movies I'd recommend for those who want to get into anime but don't know where to start. If you missed out on Parts One and Two of this Guide, you can find them here and here. I promise that I didn't just make a list of Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli films. Well, mostly. Let's talk about some anime movies, shall we?

your name. (2016)

Director: Makoto Shinkai

Studio: CoMix Wave Films

In my opinion, you can't go wrong with any Makoto Shinkai film but I can say that your name. was my favorite movie I saw in the theaters in 2017, hands down. It's the story about two high school students who swap bodies. It's a story about the differences of living in different places with one of the characters living in Tokyo and the other in rural Japan. Not only is the story engrossing and heartwretching, but the animation is absolutely gorgeous! It's seriously beautiful. According to The Hollywood Reported, it beat out Miyazaki's Spirited Away to become the highest-grossing Japanese film of all time. So if you need another reason to go see it besides my opinion, you can't get better than that.

How to Watch:

 This one will be available to rent from Amazon (and I'm sure iTunes) after January 30th. It's not streamed anywhere yet since it's such a new one. You'll have to wait unless you can buy it or borrow it.

Howl's Moving Castle (2004)

Director: Hayao Miyazaki

Studio: Studio Ghibli 

I seriously could list every Miyazaki film on this list and it wouldn't be wrong. His films are amazing! I highly recommend all of them! But I'm only going to discuss one of them and that would be my favorite, Howl’s Moving Castle. It's an adaptation of Diana Wynne Jones’ 1986 novel and is a whimsical adventure of the timid Sophie who has beem cursed with the body of an old crone by a jealous witch. She is rescued by a charismatic wizard who lives in a gigantic walking castle and Howl is my favorite. The whole cast of characters are awesome, to be honest. This is the film that I always recommend people start with who have never watched a Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli film before.

 How to Watch:

Unfortunately, Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli films aren't streamed so you're going to have to borrow it or buy it.

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006)

Director: Mamoru Hosoda

Studio: Kadokawa Herald Pictures

If you discovered you could travel backwards in time, would you us your ability to help others or use it to help yourself? I would like to think I'd help others but I'd probably help myself like Makoto Konno in this movie. And that is essentially the premise of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time with Makoto discovering that there are consequences from her escapades through time. It’s a beautiful film with terrific animation. I'm kicking myself for waiting so long to watch it. It's sci-fi speculative wish fulfillment at it's best.

How to Watch:

You can watch this one on Funimation if you have a premium subscription. You can buy/rent it through iTunes or you can borrow it.

The Secret World of Arrietty (2010)

Director: Hiromasa Yonebayashi

Studio: Studio Ghibli

I'm going to be honest. I was kind of obsessed with Mary Norton’s The Borrowers as a kid and I've seen all of its many adaptations. My favorite version is definitely Studio Ghibli's version. Not surprising, right? We're all familiar with the plot of The Borrowers so what more can I say than go watch it?

How to Watch:

Again, Studio Ghibli films aren't streamed so you're going to have to borrow it or buy it.

5 Centimeters Per Second (2007)

Director: Makoto Shinkai

Studio: CoMix Wave Films

 Before this last year, 5 Centimeters Per Second was Makoto Shinkai's most well-known film. As much as I love your name., this movie is probably the best one to be introduced to Shinkai's work. It's a slice-of-life movie that focuses on two childhood friends who pine for one another while the other circumstances in their lives are trying to pull them apart. It's a movie that touches on topics such as distance, relationships, and missed opportunities. The story is actually told as three short stories that follows the main character, Takaki Tono, through his childhood, teen years, and eventual adulthood. It's unique format complements the gorgeous animation beautifully. I love this move so much!

How to Watch:

Yay! One you can actually stream online! You can watch this on Crunchyroll with most of Shinkai's other films.

Whisper of the Heart (1995)

Director: Yoshifumi Kondo

Studio: Studio Ghibli

I didn't mean to make this list 50% Studio Ghibli films but it happened anyway. Whisper of the Heart is one of Ghibli's underappreciated treasures. It is a heartwarming coming-of-age story with an adorably endearing a romance. It's the story of Shizuku, a precocious bookworm who falls for the violin-maker, Seiji Amasawa, after discovering he shares her love of literature. Instead of professing her feelings for him, she is inspired to pursue her own passion for writing as a way to deal with them. It sounds sad but it's really an amazing movie. We wouldn't expect anything less than that from a Studio Ghibli film, would we?

How to Watch:

Sorry! I hate that Studio Ghibli films aren't offered digitally or streamed! Unfortunately, if you want to watch it you're going to have to borrow or buy it. 

That wraps up the my Beginner's Guide to anime. Is there any anime movies that I missed that you'd recommend for a newbie?

Rose Red's Beginner's Guide to Anime, Part Two

Woo! Part Two of my Beginner's Guide to Anime is here! I'm have four more series to recommend for those who want to get into anime but don't know where to start. If you missed out on Part One, you can find it here. My next anime post will be Part Three of this series and will be all about the best anime movies to start with as a newbie. Let's talk about more anime shows, shall we?

A Note On Anime Streaming: You don't need a subscription to watch most of these animes. As long as you don't mind watching ads, you can stream this whole list on Crunchyroll or Funimation for FREE!

Noragami
Episodes: 25 + 4 OVAs
Synopsis

Noragami is an anime about a minor god who wishes to be a major god with his own shrine and a human girl who winds up sucked into the world of the paranormal when she suffers an accident that has a side effect that causes her soul to literally slip out of her body at random times. I fell head over heels in love with this anime with its gods and spirits who turn into weapons. It has a little bit of everything but it's done in a way that makes it one of those animes that you seriously can't stop watching once you start. I love the characters and the way the story invests in their growth. We get each character's personal backstory while still having a plot that involves all the characters. It has tons of humor that doesn't down play the seriousness of the plot or the characters. It's SO good, guys! I need them to make a Season 3 so badly! I'll just have to content myself with catching up with the manga for now.

 Can Be Watched On:

Hulu

Funimation

Crunchyroll (Only Season 1)

Haikyu!!

Episodes: 60 + an OVA
Synopsis

Look another sports anime made my Beginner's Guide! Haikyu!! is an volleyball anime where the characters are the main reason to watch the show. There is seriously something to love about almost every character and I love their interactions! The friendships in this show are just amazing to watch grow and develop. Haikyu!! has a large cast of characters but that aspect of the show is handled SO well. The match scenes are pretty intense and awesome to watch. Plus, it has a ton of episodes if you're in the mood for a substantial binge watch. I've been holding out on watching Season 3 because I'm not ready to be out of episodes yet. I have my fingers crossed that 2018 is the year they announce a Season 4.

Can Be Watched On: 

Crunchyroll

Hulu



The Ancient Magus' Bride

Episodes: 24 + a 3 Episode OVA series
Synopsis

The Ancient Magus' Bride is the only anime in this guide that's still currently airing. I'm not sure how to describe it. It's dark, whimsical, and a delightfully magical journey as we watch the main character, Chise, find her place in the world as a Sleigh Beggy and a mage in training after she is bought at auction by the mage Elias Ainsworth. I love this anime so much! And we're only to episode 14 of a 24 epsiode Season 1. There are dragons and fairies and even a King of Cats. I love watching Elias and Chise interact and how their relationship dynamic changes as the season progresses. And the secondary characters are amazing! I adore Ruth so much! I can't recommend this anime enough. The story is fascinating and the animation is absolutely gorgeous! 

Can Be Watched On:

Crunchyroll

Funimation

  

Recovery of an MMO Junkie
Episodes: 10 + an OVA
Synopsis

I have never related more to an anime character than I have to Moriko Morioka from Recovery of an MMO Junkie. Moriko has left the stressful corporate world to become a NEET which, in her case, is someone who stays home all day and plays video games. We follow her as she starts an new online game and the friendships she makes. I loved watching her navigate her way online and in meeting her online friends in real life. This anime quickly become one of my favorites of the fall 2017 anime season. It's adorable and relatable and was way too short for my liking. I need a second season like I need air. Actually, I want several more seasons if we're being honest. Also, I need the web manga to be translated into English, please and thank you!

Can Be Watched On: 

Crunchyroll

Funimation

That wraps up the TV anime recs portion of this guide. Is there any animes I missed that you'd recommend for a newbie?

Rose Red's Beginner's Guide to Anime, Part One

This past year I've gotten back into watching anime thanks to a certain really popular figure skating anime and it feels like I've found myself again. I've loved anime since my Best Friend first introduced me to Sailor Moon and Death Note in high school but it was hard and expensive to get a hold of. We were limited by what we could get our hands on physically which was usually only the popular shows that would make it in the American markets, Studio Ghibli films, and fansubs that were uploaded to the internet not so legally.

Now, there is just so much anime we can stream across multiple platforms that it can be hard to choose what to watch first. Today, I want to put my two cents in and recommend the series I think work best for those who want to get into anime but don't know where to start. I'm going do this post in three installments because it would be super long otherwise. This post and the next one will each feature four of my favorite TV animes that are great for newbies and veterans alike. The last one will be all about anime movies. After Part Three comes out, I'm planning on doing periodic anime rec and review posts throughout the rest of the year as I find new stuff and rewatch old favorites. So be on the lookout for that. Let's get started, shall we?

A Note On Anime Streaming: You don't need a subscription to watch most of these animes. As long as you don't mind watching ads, you can stream this whole list on Crunchyroll or Funimation for FREE.

Yuri!!! on Ice
Episodes: 12
Synopsis

It wouldn't be a post-2016 anime post without mentioning the brilliance of Yuri on Ice, would it? It is one of the most awesome animes I've seen in a long time and it's THE show that got several of my friends in anime. I can't even tell you how many times I rewatched it in 2017. It's easily my favorite anime of all time. It's a sports anime that doesn't shy away from heavier topics like anxiety and depression. The fact that it also has great music, a large and diverse cast of characters, gorgeous animation, and a wonderful queer romance is just icing on the cake. This anime is great on so many levels that I could devote a whole post to it. It currently has only twelve episodes so it's easy to binge watch in a day or over the weekend. 

Can Be Watched On: 

Crunchyroll

My Hero Academia

Episodes: 38 + 2 OVAs
Synopsis

My Hero Academia is the anime that I never knew I needed in my life until I watched it this last year. It's about a superhero high school and the main character Izuku Midoriya's struggle to gain control of his quirk aka superpower. Midoriya is the type of underdog you can't help but fall in love with and root for. Actually, I fell in love with most of the characters. It quickly turned into one of my favorite animes of all time. Depending on the day you ask me, it could beat out Yuri!!! on Ice as my favorite. It has a large diverse cast and is full of action and humor. I can't begin to tell you how much I loved this one. It's the perfect blend of Western superheroes and Eastern culture plus it has a lot of superhero-type action scenes. It's just so much fun! We're getting Season 3 this spring and I'm so excited for it!

Can Be Watched On: 

Funimation

Crunchyroll

Hulu



Snow White with the Red Hair
Episodes: 24 + an OVA
Synopsis
I've watched a lot of romance anime during my tenure as an anime enthusiast so I can say without a doubt that Snow White with the Red Hair is one of the best romance animes I've ever seen! Contrary to what its name implies, this anime really has nothing to do with the Snow White story. If you are in search of a sweet and heart-warming romantic tale, then look no more. The romance between Shirayuki and Zen is absolutely adorable and perfect! There is no unnecessary bickering or drama, plus the flow of the story and their relationship is smooth and relaxing. This is an anime that can teach other animes how to handle romance and relationship development. The entire cast is absolutely fantastic! Each character had the perfect amount of depth to their development that only adds to the narrrative. The romance between Shirayuki and Zen is just so freaking perfect! I ship them so hard! The whole anime (and manga!) is all about them falling in love and supporting each other and growing into themselves. I can't recommend this one enough. I have my fingers crossed that we'll get at least one more season.

Can Be Watched On: 

 Funimation

Hulu

Yona of the Dawn

Episodes: 24 + 3 OVAs
Synopsis

Okay. I'm going to admit now that I have a soft spot for reverse harem animes and Yona of the Dawn is hands down my all-time favorite out of the ones I've watched. It's the story of a spoiled princess who flees after witnessing her father's murder and after traveling through her country is determined to get her throne back so she can help the people. It's an amazing fantasy adventure anime with a bit of romance thrown in! It starts out a bit slow but by episode four I was in for the long haul. It’s just SO good. The story is intriguing but the characters are what makes this anime so great. I adore all seven of them! And I ship the romance so hard! It's not the main focus of the anime but it's so good despite that. The character development in Yona alone from the beginning to end makes it worth the watch but the other characters have just as great arcs. *hugs Shin-Ah hard* I still have my fingers crossed that we'll get another season or two but I'm not sure if that's ever going to happen. Thank God! We have the manga and it's 26 volumes of gloriousness.

Can Be Watched On:

 Crunchyroll

Hulu

Funimation

That's Part One of my Beginner's Guide to Anime. Part Two will be out next week! In the meantime, what anime would you recommend to a newbie?