Jason Hidalgo

jhidalgo@rgj.com

Technobubble covers games, gadgets, technology and all things geek. Follow Technobubble poobah Jason Hidalgo’s shenanigans on Twitter @jasonhidalgo

Spring has sprung ladies and gentlemen, which means another crop of new anime shows to check out.

Like some dandy dude who loves to sample glasses of wine with his pinky raised, I, too, like to peruse a bunch of anime at the beginning of the season to see which ones might be worth watching. After all, there's nothing quite like the fruity, earthy tones of a Cabarnet Franc to tickle the olfactory senses.

Actually, I don’t drink alcoholic beverages so I totally have no clue about wines and just made up that whole critique. Anime, however, is a totally different deal.

Here are 13 promising new shows from the Spring 2016 anime season that I’m recommending in no particular order based on their debut episodes. I tried to pick from a diverse set of genres given viewers’ varying tastes so, hopefully, there's something here for everyone. The list, by the way, focuses on new shows and does not include anime that’s either continuing or returning from a previous season.

The list also has three extra shows than my original Spring 2016 YouTube anime picks video, which I did a few weeks before the official start of the season. Now let’s get cracking, shall we?

Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress

[Koutetsujou no Kabaneri | 甲鉄城のカバネリ]

Is your life fun? Then it’s time to douse you with some cold, hard reality — well, make-believe anime reality — with "Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress."

This show is set in a world that mixes classic Japanese fashion with steampunk technology. Like steam-powered trains. And steam-powered guns. Hey, that sounds like a lot of cool wicked fun. That is, until you find out that Ichiro Okouchi is listed as the writer. Yup, that’s the same Okouchi who’s worked on shows like “Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch” and “Valvrave.” Ruh-roh.

Add zombie-like monsters known as “Kabane” that can infect people by biting them and you’ve got the recipe for a sad pizza with an extra heaping of toppings in the form of grief and tears. The visuals look excellent, though, and the story is certainly intriguing. If you like: Attack on Titan, Terra Formars or seriously bleak anime, this one's for you.

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Mayoiga

[迷家]

What happens when you put together 30 people with life problems in a bus headed to some remote mountain village that’s supposed to fix all their woes? The saddest, shadiest bus tour ever, that’s what. It doesn’t help that the village of Nanakimura ends up not looking quite like the Utopian place that it was cracked up to be. On the plus side, at least they've got a lot of company. Well, for now. Not sure if this’ll end up more like “Danganronpa” or the TV show “Lost,” but with that big of a cast, well, they sure kinda look like fodder to me. I guess we’ll find out the deal as we go through its mysterious tale.

Kuma Miko: Girl Meets Bear

[くまみこ: Girl Meets Bear]

OK, I seriously need something to cheer me up after those first two shows and this happens to fit the bill quite nicely. “Kuma Miko” chronicles the story of middle-school girl Machi and her bear pal Natsu. See, Machi happens to be a shrine maiden or “miko” in a small town in the mountains and dreams of moving to Tokyo for high school to expand her horizons. To do so, she needs to gain the approval of Natsu, who’s concerned that Machi’s sheltered life makes her woefully unprepared for the big city. Let’s just say that the talking bear is absolutely right. A goofy setup involving human and bear ancestors combined with some kooky characters makes this one of the funnier shows of the season.

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My Hero Academia

[僕のヒーローアカデミア | Boku no Hero Academia]

One Puuuunch!!! Oh wait, wrong show. Still, that doesn’t mean you should ignore “My Hero Academia,” which provides a very “shonen” take on the whole superhero genre. The story centers on a society where most humans exhibit quirks or special powers such as the ability to generate fire or morph their bodies. This has led to a rise in both superpowered villains and heroes. Protagonist Midoriya Izuku dreams of becoming a hero but unfortunately fails to exhibit any super powers. Just as he is about to lose hope, however, he has a chance encounter with his idol and the strongest of all heroes, All Might. Afterward, Izuku finds himself taking the test for the most prestigious hero training school in the country.

Life in a Different World From Zero

[Re：ゼロから始める異世界生活 | Re:Zero Kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu]

Wait, I thought "Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku Wo" wasn’t supposed to be returning till later? “Life in a Different World From Zero” starts almost eerily like Konosuba as the main hero Natsuki Subaru finds himself transported to a fantasy world following a trip to the convenience store while wearing a tracksuit no less. Unlike Konosuba, however, “Re;Zero” does not primarily deal with over-the-top, wacky scenes that involve nuking boss castles with fancy attacks like “explosion,” “-plosion,” and “-sion.” Instead, it has a darker side as Subaru soon realizes he has the power to resurrect back at certain points in time when he’s killed. It’s something that happens a lot, too, making this more of a mystery anime as poor Subaru tries to figure what’s going on by using experiences from his deaths to solve mysteries and make things right, not just for himself but other folks.

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Kiznaiver

[キズナイーバー]

Talk about a show with some notable pedigree. First, you have Studio Trigger, known for releasing the awesome show Kill La Kill. Then you’ve got scripting and series composition duties by Mari Okada of Toradora, Black Rock Shooter and Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans fame just to name a few. The show centers around Agata Katsuhira, a normally emotionless boy who doesn’t seem to feel pain. One day, however, he finds himself installed with something called the Kizuna system, allowing him to share and divide his pain with a certain group of people. This show has a bit of a metaphysical vibe to it and likely won’t be for everyone. Given the people behind it, however, it just might be worth checking out.

Flying Witch

[ふらいんぐうぃっち]

I love slice-of-life shows. I know some folks can’t stand their typically slow plot and lack of a serious overarching narrative but I appreciate the change of pace they provide from your typical anime formula. They are pretty much like the bread to the whole anime world’s delicious, juicy hamburger. Slice-of-life shows are best when they feature a likable protagonist and supporting characters and Flying Witch delivers on those fronts. A story about a witch who moves in with relatives at a different town, Flying Witch serves up a charming story that’s part small town life with a smidgen of Harry Potter. It’s pretty much my happy palate cleanser after watching the more intense and depressing shows of the season.

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Bungou Stray Dogs

[文豪ストレイドッグス]

Elementary, my dear Watson, there’s just something about detective elements and the supernatural that go hand in hand quite well. Perhaps it’s the fact they both involve mysteries. Regardless, it’s a combination that has led to many good shows. Whether “Bungou Stray Dogs” will eventually be part of that list of memorable stories remains to be seen, but it’s at least off to a promising start. The show centers around Nakajima Atsushi, a seemingly normal boy who suddenly finds himself kicked out of an orphanage. Hmm, the plot thickens. Atsushi then runs across the eccentric Dazai Osamu, who has a fetish about the many ways people can kill themselves. His weird traits aside, Osamu also happens to be a part of a special detective agency tasked with handling cases that the normal authorities can’t. Needless to say, Atsushi finds himself roped into Osamu's pace and the rest is history. Anyway, if you like supernatural detective shows, this might be up your alley.

Joker Game

[ジョーカー・ゲーム]

Bond. Gold Bond. That’s probably what viewers will think of protagonist Sakuma, whose idealistic world view as a loyal Japanese Imperial soldier sees himself thoroughly outmatched and outclassed at first by his less scrupulous, anti-heroic partners in the spy training organization known as the “D Agency.” It’s the kind of cat-and-mouse game that makes "Joker Game" a compelling watch. Set in the World War II era, Joker Game chronicles the country’s attempt to up its spy game, along with the intrigue, mind games and underhanded shenanigans that come with such an endeavor. If the first episode is any indication of where this show is headed, it’s going to be a good ride.

Twin Star Exorcists

[Sousei no Onmyouji | 双星の陰陽師]

Sausage what? If you’re looking for another shonen fix, “Sousei no Onmyouji” or “Twin Star Exorcists” just might fit the bill. The show features talented exorcist Rokuro, who decides to give up on the trade after a traumatic experience during his childhood. The arrival of talented exorcist Benio from Kyoto, however, triggers an unfortunate series of events, leading to the formation of a rivalry between the most promising exorcist of the East and the most promising exorcist of the West. This show is heavy on supernatural Japanese elements with the aforementioned shonen kick so check it out if you like any of the past anime featuring onmyouji-based plots or even shows like “Nurarihyon no Mago.”

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And You Thought There Is Never a Girl Online?

[Netoge no Yome Wa Onna no Ko Ja Nai to Omotta | ネトゲの嫁は女の子じゃないと思った?]

Many, many years ago, while playing an online game known as Phantasy Star Universe on my PlayStation 2, a dude pretty much tried to do the online equivalent of asking me out. Maybe my mild-mannered disposition and the fact that I was playing a beautiful female Newman character (hello, Newman...) with elven ears gave him the wrong impression about my gender in the real world. Needless to say, the guy stopped paying attention to me after finding out I was a dude. This would actually happen a few more times, not just in PSU but Monster Hunter Tri on the Wii as well. ‘Tis the price one pays, I guess, for using female characters in online games. As a result, I have much sympathy for poor Hideki Nishimura in “Netoge no Yome Wa,” who ends up being traumatized after realizing he just ended up asking out an “ossan” or older Japanese dude in-game. Since then, he develops a distrust of female characters online, at least as romance prospects. Naturally, he ends up partying with an actual girl and the hijinks ensue. Props to the show, by the way, for showing MMO nods like Hideki’s poor tank being massacred several times after drawing aggro while his healer and damage dealers goof around during chat. As someone who mains a healer in games such as Final Fantasy XIV and seen my fair share of amusing moments, the MMO references just crack me up.

High School Fleet

[ハイスクール・フリート | Hai-Furi]

I love “Girls und Panzer.” Thanks to the show’s lovable characters and generous serving of classic tanks, it became a must-see show for yours truly despite how preposterous its concept of high school girls operating heavy armor as part of a school club may seem. So imagine my surprise when I loaded up “High School Fleet” blind with no knowledge of what the show was about. Hey, it’s just like Girls und Panzer, except with ships! Then the charming comedy gave way to some heavy action toward the end of the first episode and I suddenly started getting a “Kantai Collection” vibe. You know, that’s actually not such a bad combination. Watch this if you like watching cute girls doing cute things like operating a freaking battleship.

Macross Delta

[マクロス Δ]

As someone who’s more of an old-school Macross guy who found the “Love Heart” shenanigans of Macross D7 a bit overboard, I am actually approaching Macross Delta with a bit of caution and perhaps a slight sense of trepidation. While music idols have always been a key part of Macross, I’m admittedly more partial to the action and drama elements of the series. Delta, however, completely goes all in with the musical aspects of the series, complete with some hardcore fighting idol action. Like, literally the idols fight in the battlefield with their mech bodyguards while singing such songs as "Giri Giri Ai" (which roughly translates to "Close Call of Love" or something). Um, OK. Then again, if the animation quality of the first episode is any indication of how battles are going to unfold in this series, then I’m gonna be climbing aboard this musical bandwagon even if they decide to throw in Justin Bieber singing on top of a Valkyrie in a skirt just to see the combat. Those mech fights were simply glorious.