It’s time for another anime season, so here’s a list of the top 10 shows J-List will be watching in the winter 2019 anime series. While not overflowing with great shows like the just-ending fall 2018 anime season, there seem to be a lot of good shows, though time will tell which ones are embraced by fans in the end.
One of the rules of the anime industry is, you can never tell ahead of time which shows are going to be embraced by fans, and which shows will be ignored. There are many factors in play: the characters that click emotionally with fans, the creators who win the support of fans, the inclusion of popular voice actors, and the quality of execution of anime studios, especially after the first two episodes. Then there’s the all-important “waifu factor,” which female characters will appeal to fans and cause them to obsess about them, making fan-art and memes on Reddit and Twitter.
So without further delay, here are the top 10 shows J-List will be watching in the Winter 2019 anime season…
Kemono Friends Season 2
One of the surprise hits of early 2017 was Kemono Friends, a low-budget CGI anime based on an already-cancelled social game about a run-down animal park populated with cute animals who live together in harmony, and a mysterious creature named Kaban (“bag” because she carries a backpack), who’s a human. The only thing is, all humans are supposed to have died in the nuclear war that caused the animals to become intelligent. Will we discover the secrets of the world our furry friends live in? I hope so!
3D Kanojo Real Girl Season 2
The usual way an anime gets a second season is by selling a lot of Blu-rays and proving to the animation studio and “production committee” members (investors) that the show has enough popularity with fans to warrant additional risk and investment. Even shows that are well received by fans, like my beloved Scum’s Wish, can end up financial losers if fans don’t buy enough Blu-rays or other merchandise (in the rare case any is offered). Since 3D Real Kanojo pretty much crashed and burned in Japan, with the worst performing Blu-ray sales of 2017 (supposedly only 92 copies sold??), it’s surprising that it’s getting a second season.
We have the changing anime business landscape to thank for that, namely the rise of funding for anime series by international streaming sites, in this case, Sentai Filmworks. I love those guys and will do my best to watch and promote the new season of a show I enjoyed the first time around.
Mahou Shoujo Special Ops Asuka
A magical girl anime with a cool sense of design and strong characters? With awesome military battles? I’m certainly down for that.
Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari
What can make this fantasy anime based on a light novel series stand out among its peers this season? Amazing animation and wonderful plot? Flawless execution? Maybe, but I’d say the best hope for the studio is if fans start lewding the sword-wielding dog girl, Raphtalia. She’s a cutie.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 2
It seems that the upcoming anime season might be defined by its second seasons, rather than by new shows. I thoroughly enjoyed the first season of That Time I Was Reincarnated as a Slime, and will keep watching in the second season.
Kakegurui××
A second season of the popular gambling anime Kakegurui: Compulsive Gambler, which featured the most outrageous characters doing battle by gambling. Being a huge fan of voice actress Saori Hayami, I’ll totally be watching.
Promised Neverland
An anime based on a manga series about some orphans who live in an orphanage called Grace Field House. Life is perfect for them, until the children realize they’re actually living on a farm, and they’re the livestock, raised as food for a race of demonic creatures. Looks like a dark and awesome show!
Boogiepop wa Warawanai (2019)
A remake, or reboot, or sequel, to a Madhouse work from 2000 based on a series of light novels. While I generally resist shows that make you go watch twelve other connected works in order to consider yourself a fan — I’m looking at you, Fate and Monogatari —I’ll certainly give the new series a few episodes. Plus, Madhouse is nearly always an instant watch.
Date a Live III
The highly successful series continues, with lots of fun activities and characters. Among other things, Date a Live has been one of those rare anime series blessed with many gorgeous figure releases, which makes us happy as anime retailers. I’ll certainly be paying close attention to this new series. If nothing else, the fact that it’s by J.C. Staff compels me to watch.
Domestic na Kanojo
Based on a manga by Kei Sasuga about a boy named Natsuo who’s got a crush on his English teacher, Hina. When he meets an unsociable girl named Rui who offers to have sex with him, he agrees, then feels better about it. The next thing he knows, his father announces he’s getting remarried, and his new stepmother is…his teacher Hina. And naturally, Hina’s younger sister is the girl Natsuo lost his virginity with, Rui. Basically, it seems like an animated version of our legendary game, Gibo: Stepmother’s Sin.
Well, now you know the top 10 shows J-List will be watching in the Winter 2019 anime season. Did we miss any good ones? Tell us in the comments if so!
