Among the 50+ new anime series airing or streaming in the current spring 2021 anime season is one I’m especially glad to see: the return of Kobayashi-san Chi no Maid Dragon with the Mini Dragon short series. This isn’t the proper second season quite yet — that starts airing in July — but this is a fun series of short episodes to build hype for the upcoming proper return of the beloved Kyoani show.
MiniDora: Kobayashi Dragon Maid S
There’s not much to say about the Mini Dragon short anime series. Each episode consists of bite-sized 1.5-2 minute episodes featuring all our favorite characters: stressed-out programmer Kobayashi, her fawning dragon maid and would-be lover Tooru, young Kana who is always acting cute, adorable Riko who’s in love with Kana, and so on. Each episode is so short, you could get through all of them in a single sitting.
Kobayashi Dragon Maid is Nearly my Favorite Anime Series
I often get asked what my favorite anime is. Having been an avid fan since the late 70s and blogging about anime since founding J-List nearly 25 years ago, I’ve seen so many anime works it would seem to be impossible to pick a favorite. Still, if you put a gun to my head and asked me to pick five absolutely fantastic anime properties I will always love, the list would include (in no particular order):
- Super Dimensional Fortress Macross, especially the 1984 Do You Remember Love? film.
- Space Battleship Yamato, especially the Yamato 2199 remake, which was very nearly perfect in its execution. The sequel Yamato 2202 follow-up was nice but had some unfortunate flaws.
- Steins;Gate. Time travel + otaku references, what more could a fan ask for?
- The entirety of Neon Genesis Evangelion, both the original “gritty” 1995 series and original End of Evangelion film, as well as the later film remakes.
- Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid, the perfect combination of relaxing slice-of-life, what-would-it-be-like-to-fly-on-a-dragon’s-back escapist fantasy, and light yuri bait. The show was also chock full of interesting aspects about various aspects of Japan, which I enjoyed blogging about.
Celebrating the Return of Kyoto Animation
Another reason to be happy is that Mini Dragon, along with the Violet Evergarden final movie that was released last summer, marks the return of our beloved Kyoto Animation after the horrible arson attack in July of 2019. While Japan has no shortage of amazing animation studios that fans love, Kyoani was the studio that made so many unforgettable series and films, it can be hard to count them all. Some of the best include:
- The glorious anime series based on the works of Key and Jun Maeda, Air, Kanon, and Clannad, which defined the golden age of anime based on visual novels.
- The groundbreaking Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, which challenged us with an incredibly complex story.
- Lucky Star, the gateway drug for many current otakus today.
- K-On!, which made everyone want to learn to play guitar in a high school band, and made us all cry like babies at the end of the series.
- Koe no Katachi, still one of the most profound films I’ve ever seen.
- Violet Evergarden, the show that reduced Mrs. J-List and me to tears even more than Clannad After Story.
- Older classics like Full Metal Panic and the early-2000’s Inuyasha films.
What are the top Kyoto Animation shows? I have a blog post giving my picks here!
Recovering from an unimaginable attack as Kyoto Animation has done, and swearing to get revenge on the arsonist’s taking of 36 lives by continuing to make awesome animation for years and decades into the future, is truly an amazing feat. J-List will support the studio for as long as we’re in business!
Thanks for reading this post on the Mini Dragon short series. Are you excited to have a proper season of Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid returning next season? Post your thoughts below, or tell us on Twitter!
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