Each Anime season has shows that every fan should watch. These shows cut across different genres including Slice of Life, sports and adventure. They have different plots, emotions and animation styles yet they leave their viewers satisfied. All anime fans should be watching the following four shows, as they are gems among a rich anime season.
Kuroko’s Basketball
Kuroko’s Basketball has a special vibe. The story is about 6 players, known as the generation of miracles, who have gone to different high schools and are competing against one another in a tournament. Immediately all the game-play positions and rules are accurate. Combine that with the crowd’s interaction, watching it generates the feeling that this is not an anime but an actual basketball game. This is rarely achieved in sports anime, simulating the real world counter part. The show also captures different philosophies on how basketball and sports should be played. Akashi harbors one of these philosophies that winning determines everything and is willing to do what it takes to win. This comes into direct conflict with Kuroko as he has a different take on basketball that is more team centered. As a result, this causes a clash on and off the court. This is relevant as the philosophy that Akashi and Kuroko have is important to basketball today and other sports. Finally, the anime story is simple as the underdog team wins yet it keeps you on the edge of your toes as you wonder how they are going to win. Kuroko’s Basketball is the perfect introduction to sports anime and is a show that should not be missed.
Plastic Memories
Plastic Memories, the main character cosplay can be purchased here, is a bittersweet anime. The anime focuses on the relationship between a human named Tsukasa and his partner Isla, who is a Giftia. Being a Giftia, she only has 2,000 hours left to live. The anime raises many different questions and emotions. Some of these are thought provoking such as the concept of life and death and what would you do if you knew you were going to die. To make matters more complicated Tsukasa and Isla fall in love, knowing what happens as the hours count down in her life. This is a sad, tear jerking anime that hits you on a philosophical and moral level that makes you question life and love. Yet, despite it being sad it is beautifully animated and after it is watched as a viewer feel accomplished.
Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?
Is it Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon, which can be purchased here, just by it’s title, seems as if it is going to be a raunchy comedy anime. It does have its comedic moments but it is a serious anime. The story focuses on an adventurer who is weak, gets saved by a girl, develops a crush on the girl who saved him and wants to get stronger for her. Seems like a straight- forward path, the anime takes a turn as the main character is extremely weak and is slowly learning and building a guild/familia. The anime allows for a breath of fresh air as it combines the medieval dungeon guild exploration idea with fast pace fighting scenes allowing for a new hybrid style. This anime has a perfect balance between a little bit of fan service, along with dungeon exploration, teamwork and fighting that leaves something for all viewers.
Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma
Food Wars: Shokugeki no Soma is an anime that focuses on cooking, the manga can be purchased here. This anime has an interesting twist, as the anime is very competition based. The show is set around the idea that cooking is like a sport and only the top 10% at this cooking school will be successful. As a result students are constantly pitted against each other, much like teams play each other. This instills a new definition of what a sport can be. The show redefines how to take the concept of cooking and generate a new spin on the topic. Both the sport element and cooking element are new creative ideas. When they are put together really show that anime and story telling is constantly evolving. Food Wars, by utilizing the elements of a sports anime and the concepts of cooking animes, creates a universal anime that appeals to many different people. Just like food, Food Wars can be served hot or cold depending on the person’s mood.
