There’s nothing like sitting back with a cup of boba tea, a burrito bowl from an unnamed restaurant (no free clout!) and watching the latest and greatest anime. These are the top five most iconic anime that I have watched this year:
- Sk8 the Infinity
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Are you a fan of a secret league of skateboarders, subtle gay romance, and a lovable cast (with the exception of a specific character, I’m looking at you, Adam)? If so, “Sk8 the Infinity” is right up your alley! It is such an adorable watch that transports me back to high school. Was I a skateboarder? Absolutely not. Do I relate to the struggles that these high schoolers face? Yep, to this day. This is the perfect watch for a first anime watch or a lifelong enjoyer of anime…
- Kamisama Kiss
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This. anime. is. so. adorable. The show follows Nanami, a strong feminine teenager with a heart of gold who stumbles onto the responsibility of becoming a God, and her begrudging sidekick who eventually realizes that he has fallen in love with her. I must confess, I am a decade late to this show. While it is a product of its time at some points of the show, it is so pure and wholesome. The theme song is stuck in my head 24/7. If you are looking for a nice, fluff anime that restores your hope in romance and love in this cold, dark world, I highly recommend “Kamisama Kiss.”
- Great Pretender
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Netflix made a fantastic anime? Who would’ve thought! The show is centered around the greatest swindler in all of Japan. He meets his match while attempting to pickpocket a French stranger and they join forces to exploit rich, evil celebrities around the world. I desperately recommend “Great Pretender” to all of my friends for two reasons. 1) The anime truly is insane with so many plot twists. I never could’ve guessed what was coming next. And 2) Netflix cancels everything (including my favorite show of all time, GLOW) and I cannot let them kill off another one of my babies! The ending theme is also “The Great Pretender” by Queen. Need I say more?
- Kakegurui: Season Two
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This show is not for the faint of heart. If you’ve seen the first season of the show, you know it is deliciously spicy and high stakes at all points. This is a gambling show through and through. Yumeko Jabami is the definition of a freak! While I find her incredibly entertaining, she lives to make a risky bet. Is nothing sacred? She is extremely lucky that she’s clever enough to catch on to all of the tricks in the bets, otherwise, she would be considered a fool rather than a genius. My favorite game this season was Kirari’s Tower of Doors featuring Yumeko versus Sayaka. The loser had to give up what they cherish most in the world and jump from the tower to the ground below, risking imminent death. The stakes were (quite literally) high and my favorite couple in the show, Kirari and Sayaka, would no longer be able to speak with each other if Sayaka loses the bet, while Yumeko would have to give up gambling forever if she lost. So juicy! The trailer for the first season is linked above.
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Entertainment District Arc
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“Demon Slayer” is centered around a boy named Tanjiro and his sister Nezuko, who was turned into a demon against her will. Tanjiro’s main goals are to maintain his sister’s morality and restore her to her former sweet (and human) self. The second season follows the events from the first season and the accompanying movie. Let me start by saying that I originally despised Tengen Uzui, the sound Hashira. I viewed him as nothing but arrogance and fragile masculinity, my least favorite traits in a man. When I heard that his story would be the focus of the new season, I groaned in despair. I vowed that if I heard him so much as utter the word “flamboyant”, I would lose my mind… but I was pleasantly surprised. His story is extremely well-written and full of heart. His wives (yes, plural) are incredible and badass (although it is a little odd that their personalities and appearances resemble the main characters). I have to be honest, this season almost gave me a heart attack multiple times.