TheFall 2023 animeseason is essentially over, and it was a fun ride. If someone felt like watching some quality Japanese animation, they should not have struggled to find it. And, if they were specifically craving fantasy stories, they were not left hungry. The quarter was so overflowing with medieval-style fantasy content that shows threatened to blend together, at least stylistically; however, some series have naturally risen to the top.
As there are only so many hours in a week, not everyone watchedevery Fall animeas it aired. Consequently, they might wish to catch up on a couple of series they initially missed. To help create that shortlist, here are thebest Fall 2023 animethat are worth binging.
The cutoff point for the current selection isDecember 26, 2023. Each anime’s evolvingMyAnimeListscore will be included as a reference, but this data is just one part of the overall equation and not the be-all-end-all for the final rankings.
OK, this one is weird.Under Ninjaenvisions a version of Japan where ninjas operate in the shadows, and their reach extends beyond the country’s borders. Kuro Kumogakure is one such operative, and he is assigned a task that involves masquerading as a high school student. Along the way, things get dangerous and, well, bizarre.
Under Ninjais an absurdist comedy with hints of action that follows a nonlinear structure and features a surprisingly big roster of characters. At times, the story can be difficult to follow, although it becomes easier to digest when someone simply decides to roll with the silliness. Along with a lot of fun nonsense, the anime sprinkles in some fascinating world-building that hints at the history that led to this society.Under Ninjais one of those anime that people will likely love or hate, especially if its particular brand of humor fails to hit the mark with someone; still, its novelty justifies implementing thethree-episode rule.
Although divisive,The Rising of the Shield Heroproduced an overall solid first season that knew how to get an emotional reaction out of viewers, even if it had to rely on one-dimensional villains to get the job done. Season 2, unfortunately, dropped the ball, producing an arc that somehow felt simultaneously rushed and painfully slow. This entry was so underwhelming that it could have sunk the adaptation entirely, but a third season was announced alongside its predecessor. While not flawless, season 3 has been a considerable step up from its immediate ancestor, coming far closer to replicating the quality and magic of the original release.
The Rising of the Shield Herois currently focusing on Naofumi’s attempts to establish a village where he can house and protect the people who depend on him. In the meantime, he is trying to bring together the chosen heroes in preparation for the next Guardian Beast fight, which is easier said than done since all the other candidates are not exactly reliable or in great shape mentally. Compared to season 2, the Fall 2023 entry has an almost slow-life quality as quite a few episodes highlight Naofumi’s “normal” routine, although the show still moves at a fairly quick pace. Although they can still be annoying, a few of the otherCardinal Heroes have started their journey toward redemption, which should be an overall positive development for the series.
Unfortunately, the season has steadily lost steam as it has progressed, with the story having little forward momentum and suffering from an overly large cast filled with fairly forgettable faces outside of a select few.
Goblin Slayer
Goblin Slayeris strange. The anime launched with one of the most controversial episodes of the last few years, setting the stage for a dark fantasy story that is not afraid to take risks and force the audience to feel uncomfortable. Then, the show settled into a routine and morphed into a fairly traditional action fantasy anime that plays things surprisingly safe, save for the occasional gory scene. Season 1 started this transition, only for its sequel to complete it. Now, just to be clear,Goblin Slayeris generally entertaining, and its trope-heavy characters share an endearing camaraderie that helps carry the more uninteresting storylines.
After a rather uneventful start, season 2 started to pick up momentum with a short arc centering around a trip to Elf’s village. This saga did not produce all that many surprises, but it did highlight Elf and Goblin Slayer’s blossoming friendship, all the while delivering some decent action sequences. This season also hinted at the psychological trauma that comes with leading the perilous life of an adventurer, even if it did not explore these themes thoroughly.
Goblin Slayer’s second season was a fine way to spend 20 minutes a week. It is perfectly watchable, which is neither a damnation nor a glowing endorsement.
Car racing anime are so rare that the theme regularly goes full years without producing content. For the most part, 2023 seemed set to be one of those years, but the Fall season had other plans. In a welcome change of pace, the current lineup features two racing anime:MF GhostandOvertake. The latter revolves around Formula 4 and focuses more on exploring its characters' psyches; however, the show has not delivered all that many racing sequences, so it might be disappointing for viewers who are specifically tuning in for that part of the equation.
Conversely,MF Ghostis the direct opposite ofOvertake, in the sense that the anime’s priority is undeniably the actual racing. This should come as no surprise considering the series is a sequel to the most popular andbest racing animeof all time,Initial D.MF Ghosttakes place during an era when driving is automated, with the manual act being limited to a highly-televised street racing motorsport. A talented rookie driver named Kanata Rivington arrives in Japan to take part in this competition, all in the hope of attracting his father’s attention. While the characters are generally inoffensive,MF Ghost’s stars are its cars, and they come alive in phenomenal and lengthy races. Still, the lack of any substantial character drama does hurt the overall experience.
Some anime grab viewers instantly and demand their engagement. Other shows simmer under the surface before exploding in a great ball of fire. Finally, a small handful of series are just pleasant from start to finish. They are not loud or attention-hogging, instead opting to simply present a nice way for people to spend 20 minutes a week. Except for a few all-time greats, slice of life anime tend to fit into this category since they often feel like they are designed to heal the audience’s minds after a long and tiring day. No need to think, just relax and watch these characters go through their everyday lives without any life-ending threats.
Slice of life anime have become strangely rare in recent years, with most seasons only producing one or two shows that properly fit the category. Fall 2023 hasMy New Boss Is GoofyandThe Yuzuki Family’s Four Sons, both of which are solid additions to the genre. The former is aworkplace iyashikeithat touches upon adult bullying, while the latter revolves around four brothers who are trying to make things work after the death of their parents. Although both shows have grim backstories, their tones are otherwise fairly lighthearted and typical of the genre.
The Yuzuki Family’s Four Sonsgets the nod due to its unique setting and handling of difficult themes like gender norms. The latter is only a secondary plot in a few episodes, but the anime handles the topic well.
Like season 2, the Fall 2023 entry promotes a supporting character into the lead role: Kitasan Black. Tokai Teiou, the former protagonist, serves as something of a role model to the young horse girl, who is talented but far from unbeatable.Uma Musumehas always shined in its character work, and season 3 is no exception. Kitasan Black’s earnestness makes her difficult to hate, and the secondary characters all have their own goals and motives driving them forward. That said, the plot plays things too safe and relies heavily on the likability of the characters to carry it. Although this cour does not come close to matching the quality of season 2, it is still pretty decent.
I’m In Love With The Villainessis based on a fairly beloved light novel, which has also produced a very good manga. So far, Platinum Vision’s adaptation has been a mixed bag, particularly in the presentation side of things. While not terrible, the show’s animation can be a bit too stiff in places, an effect that can lessen the humor’s impact. Flaws aside,I’m In Love With The Villainessis still a fun watch thanks to its leads' big personalities.
An isekai villainess anime, the series throws out a fun twist by having the protagonist, Rei (or Rae, in-game), reincarnate as an otome game’s hero rather than its villain. The thing is, Rei has a huge crush on the game’s villainess, Claire, and she is not afraid to show it. Part-stalker, part-friend, Rae’s direct admiration and unflinching declarations of love drive Claire crazy, although the latter eventually begins to warm up to her new schoolmate.
I’m In Love With The Villainess' humor is almost entirely dependent on Claire’s reactions to Rae’s forwardness, a funny gag that does threaten to overstay its welcome. Thankfully, the anime eventually starts to shake up its formula by strengthening the pair’s relationship as they venture into friendship territory. While never terrible, the series has struggled to produce anything of note when not focusing on the main relationship. The world-building has not been particularly interesting, and the secondary characters are generally shallow or forgettable. Still, the anime ended on a fairly high note.
As with any season, Fall 2023 had its share of isekai or reincarnation anime, and they were mostly respectable.Tearmoon Empiredid not attract as much attention as the season’s sequels, but it is based on a fairly popular light novel and, more importantly, has a unique tone that sets it apart from the crowd. Inspired by the French Revolution, the anime envisions a fantasy world where the ruling class has failed the masses. When a revolt happens, Mia Luna’s life of comfort turns into a nightmare, and she is eventually separated from her head.
However, Mia gets a do-over by reawakening as her younger self, allowing her to not only save her neck but also steer the country into a brighter future.Tearmoon Empireis wickedly funny, especially considering its rather dark premise. Mia is a charming lead who stumbles to success and adoration despite her actions being almost entirely self-serving. While the supporting characters are not especially memorable, they bounce off Mia well.
The Ancient Magus' Bridehad a weird season 2. While generally well-written, the show started to feel a lot less unique than it did during its first season. Part of that has to do with the sequel taking place in amagic school, a setting that has been done to death by fantasy anime. For the most part, the series did not do a lot to differentiate its academy from the genre’s many other schools, especially in the Fall 2023 cour.
The story was also in no rush to get to its conclusion, and there was a stretch of episodes where very little seemed to happen beyond the slow decline of a depressed and exhausted girl. That person is Philomela, a secondary character who has gradually developed into the narrative’s main driving force. Although Philomela’s arc is reminiscent of Chise’s journey in the previous season, she is less interesting since the audience only gets to see her through the protagonist’s eyes for most of the season. However,The Ancient Magus' Brideeventually does properly dive into Philomela’s backstory and psyche, and these episodes represent season 2 at its best. It just took way too long to get to that point.
