Incredibly, it’s time for another anime season to descend on us all, even though I’m still desperately trying to finish all the shows I’ve been following from the current season. As usual, the Fall 2018 anime season looks to be an amazing one, as the anime industry continues to grow, in part thanks to the financial support of Western companies like Crunchyroll, Funimation, Netflix, Amazon, and NBC Universal Japan. As usual, there seem to be “too many” shows, more than any reasonable fan could possibly take in even if he didn’t do anything but watch anime all day.
So what Fall 2018 anime series will J-List be watching? Here are 14 entries we plan on following and introducing on our blog!
J-List’s Fall 2018 Anime Guide
Goblin Slayer
Another fantasy-themed anime derived from a light novel series. I wonder if this will count as isekai? This might be a bit too Overlord-derived to keep up with, but I’ll check out the first episodes.
Kishukugakkou no Juliet / Boarding School Juliet
Romeo and Juliet, acted out in the background of the Japanese boarding school. I’m pretty sure I’ve watched worse. The slightly sexy pose the main heroine is striking here makes me wonder which upcoming series will have fan service as a way of catching fans’ hearts? It doesn’t seem like it would be this one, but you never know.
Golden Kamuy – Season 2
Serious drama set in Japan’s frozen Hokkaido in the years after the Russo Japanese war of 1905? Sounds fresh and interesting to me. The first anime I’ve ever noticed to feature an Ainu, the aboriginal inhabitants of Japan from ancient times. I’d better hunt down the first season.
Fairy Tail
When you’re an old and jaded anime fan like me, it becomes harder and harder to watch Jump-kei anime series, as they always seem to be aimed at a much younger age group. Also, with more than 270 episodes already aired, Fairy Tail is way longer than any series I’ve ever properly followed. But since it’s the final season, I guess I’ll give it a try.
Anime Yell!
An anime about cute girls joining the cheerleading squad. Considering that I just watched an anime about young girls playing beach volleyball and smacking each other’s butts, I guess I can give this one a try.
Seishun Buta Yarou wa Bunny Girl Senpai no Yume wo Minai / Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai
I’m physically incapable of ignoring a show that has a title so similar to Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru / My Youth Romantic Comedy is Wrong. Plus I have a bunny girl fetish.
Ore ga Suki nano wa Imouto dakedo Imouto ja Nai
Yet another “imouto-kei” story derived from a light novel series, complete with the compulsory ridiculously long title. And guess what? They’re both still in school, yet become famous light novel authors. Wow, they’re really breaking new ground with this bold story. It’s nice to see anime studios take such bold chances with the material!
Naturally, I’ll be watching.
Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken / That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
In accordance with the San Francisco Treaty of 1951, Japan is required to make at least one isekai anime per season. This is the story of a 37-year-old man who gets killed and is reincarnated in another world as a slime monster in a fantasy world. Sounds entertaining to me!
Yagate Kimi ni Naru / Bloom Into You
If you know anything about me, you know that I am the world’s biggest yuri fan, always happy to cheer for girls who love girls. The upcoming Yagate Kimi ni Naru seems to have a good budget and marketing behind it. And one of the heroines is voiced by Minako Kotobuki, who played the yuri-liscious Asuka-senpai in Hibike! Euphonium and Tsumugi from K-On. That alone will get me in front of the TV.
Sword Art Online: Alicization
Sometimes I have great timing. A few weeks ago I wrote a blog post lamenting the way anime used to have a “long tail” with many shows having 50 episodes, running all year long rather than the current trend of most shows being just one cour (12 episodes), and generally forgotten by fans once the last episode airs. Just minutes after publishing my post, fans got word that the upcoming Sword Art Online: Alicization will be a full four cours. A whole year of Sword Art Online! While many fans get on the anti-SAO bandwagon because it seems like the cool thing to do, I plan on giving the new series a fair shake.
A Certain Magical Index – Series 3
Index/Railgun have constantly been among the most entertaining anime series over the past decade, and I’ll happily get on board for the third season. Even though I harbor a strong dislike for the main character, Index. But that’s nothing new in anime. In fact, it’s a tradition going back to Sailor Moon.
I hope you enjoyed this short Fall 2018 Anime Guide. What Fall 2018 anime series will you be checking out? Chat with us on Facebook and Twitter!
