Anime season has officially begun, and there are already a ton of great new shows in the pipeline. But with so many great shows vying for your attention, how can you decide which ones to watch? We’ve compiled a list of our picks for the best new anime of the season and highlighted what sets them apart from the crowd. These are all new anime shows that will definitely be worth your time, whether you’re an old fan or just discovering anime on Crunchyroll! Here’s our list of the best new anime of the season!
Sakamoto desu ga?
Ever since Sentai Filmworks announced it would be releasing Sakamoto desu ga? (yes, that’s how it’s spelled—but we promise it will grow on you), many anime fans have been eagerly awaiting its arrival. The series takes place in Japan in 1983 and revolves around a high school student with a quirky personality. He doesn’t care much about his classmates, but one day he saves a classmate from being groped by a ruffian. Now known as the erotic go-home club president, he becomes involved in all sorts of hilarious hijinks thanks to his newfound popularity. With characters that feel like real people and situations that may actually happen to someone your age, Sakamoto desu ga?
Alderamin on the Sky
This anime falls into a category that’s becoming increasingly common: a light novel adaptation. While popular series like Sword Art Online is following in its footsteps, it’s worth noting that these days, some light novels are actually really good—and Alderamin is one such example. The characters aren’t anything to write home about, but they’re enough to move you through what would otherwise be a mediocre setting. However, if there is one thing Alderamin on the Sky can offer, it’s intriguing. With political machinations and engaging worldbuilding throughout all three courses so far, you will be compelled to watch more than once!
KonoSuba – God’s blessing on this wonderful world!!
When you think shounen, you don’t อนิเมะใหม่ think hot girl-on-girl action. At least, that was my preconception before watching Qualidea Code, an anime that combines YA high school hijinks with some surprisingly well-animated lesbian romantic subplots. If your friends are into sports shows or harem comedies but aren’t afraid to experiment with genre and tone (or if they like queer content in their media), then it’s worth checking out. You might not guess a show about high school kids would be good at addressing issues surrounding social inequality and feminism—but I wasn’t expecting a lot from a show featuring a heroine who can shoot laser beams from her eyes either.
Qualidea Code
The Perfect Blend of Comedy and Action: It’s an age-old question that’s plagued anime fans for decades—to laugh or to cry? It’s true that, in a given season, there is rarely room for both. But Qualidea Code bridges that gap in spectacular fashion with its blend of comedy and serious moments between characters. The series feels like it’s stealing from some of the most well-known anime around (from its monikers alone, you can draw comparisons to Evangelion and Fate/Stay Night), but it executes those inspirations so well that it makes them feel fresh once again.
91 Days
Yes, there’s a new season of anime starting up in 2016, and if you’re like me and you’ve been catching up on all your must-watch anime for far too long now, that means it can be hard to know what to choose from. Fortunately for you, I’m an expert at watching every single new show that comes out each season while still maintaining other time commitments. As a result, I have a very discerning eye when it comes to anime quality. That said, my favorite (so far) of the fall 2016 season is 91 Days. It takes place in Prohibition-era America during which some interesting characters are caught up in gang wars.
Mobile Suit Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans
Unlike most anime, Iron-Blooded Orphans is more political and has a darker tone than most. As pilots strive to become adults with hopes and dreams, they are haunted by their old life as child soldiers caught in a never-ending war for independence. While dark, it does have light moments that make you chuckle every now and then. If you like watching fighting robots tear each other apart with rockets and rifles, you’ll like Iron-Blooded Orphans. And hey, if you get tired of watching robot fights then it has an excellent plot line to fall back on! One thing I didn’t mention earlier is that if you don’t watch Mobile Suit Gundam Seed or Destiny or any other Gundam series before, don’t worry about it!
