2022 is at an end and the first season of 2023 is about to begin – let’s look at some of the most promising anime to come out in the Winter season…
NieR:Automata Ver1.1a
This adaptation from the extremely popular action role-playing game needs little introduction. The anime will tell the story of a futuristic world overrun by machines through the eyes of androids, 2B, and 9S. The game is infamous for its interesting storytelling and third-wall-breaking elements so I’m doubtful whether this will hold up in an anime format but I’m intrigued to find out.
Spy Classroom
This anime centres around a school that trains young women to be spies and their subsequent missions – there have been plenty of similar school-themed shows but this trailer showcased a banging soundtrack, nice animation, and great character designs, which makes it one to keep an eye on to see if it will stand out from the rest. I’m unsure if the series is going to take a more serious or comedic route as the trailer shows aspects of both, but I’m hoping it’ll take a more serious and dark tone.
The Ice Guy and His Cool Female Companion
Standing out from the many high school romances we tend to see is this one about two adults in the workplace – one of whom has a strange power that makes the temperature drop and ice form around him. Based on a web manga, the characters look pretty likable and this one looks to be a fun, cute watch with a romance that might warm the heart…
Trigun Stampede
The last Trigun anime aired back in 1998, with a movie in 2010, so it’s been quite a while since we’ve seen Vash the Stampede on our screens. The trailer showcases some of the great action adventure hijinks that the series is famed for but the use of CGI animation might put some people off. The characters look almost a little too polished, but the director has worked on other great shows such as Houseki no Kuni and Terror in Resonance so I have hopes this will be a good one.
Buddy Daddies
An anime original, this one will likely be compared with the fun family series Spy x Family. This one looks like a lot of fun though, based around an outgoing criminal contractor and a sombre assassin who end up caring for a young girl. As expected madcap events will follow and I’m hoping to see some fun interactions between the odd trio.
Itou Junji: Maniac
Whilst this isn’t the first adaptation of famed horror manga writer, Junji Ito’s work this is the first in a while with Junji Ito Collection airing back in 2018. That adaptation didn’t cross from page to screen all that effectively but I have hopes that this version, backed by Netflix, will finally bring some of the eerie scares Junji Ito is famous for to the screen. The anime opening heavily relies on using the distinctive Tomie as its the main focus but some of the most interesting of Junji It’s stories are supposed to feature in this anthology. If you’re a lover of creepy short stories, this is definitely one to keep an eye on.
Hikari no Ou
The art style for this one is what caught my interest straight away with its more old-fashioned style and muted colour tones. The series takes place after humanity’s ‘last war’, revolving around a young village girl and a former student. Together can they change the course of the future and quell the Flame Spirits which are wreaking havoc for the remaining population? This is probably the show I’m anticipating to be my favourite of the season and whilst it might fly under the radar for most, I’m hoping it’s one that will do well.
Honourable mentions:
Tokyo Revengers season 2 – This action-packed shounen series is back and will likely dominate the Winter season.
Kaina of the Great Snow Sea – If you can get past the CGI animation, the story and world-building look amazing for this series set in a world rapidly being destroyed by a rising snow sea and a mysterious princess.
Malevolent Spirits: Mononogatari – This supernatural action series follows mysterious clans who utilise spirits and the trailer looks like this is also going to have a lot of heart to it as well.
Sugar Apple Fairy Tale – One of the more wholesome entries of the series, this anime is about a girl in a magical land who is aiming to become a sugar sculptor. There’s a lot more to this series than meets the eye, likely touching on some topics such as grief and slavery.
Giant Beasts of Ars – An action fantasy series about giant beasts who attack and are hunted in turn. The trailer for this series had some really cool visuals and a great soundtrack – there are more than a few shades of Attack on Titan sprinkled in it, but this looks like it could be a solid action show.
Endo and Kobayashi Live! The Latest on Tsundere Villainess Lieselotte – Another otome rom-com, but this one features a real-life pair who find themselves able to control events inside the game and therefore try their best to ensure the super-cute villainess gets a happy ending!
