To preface this article, I am a casual anime watcher and enjoyer. I say “casual” because lately, I haven’t had time to watch these shows as much as I should because I’ve been busy with work and school. As summer break quickly approaches, I’ve compiled a list of shows that my dearest friends have begged me to watch as well as those that I have yet to finish or have wanted to watch. To keep things brief, here are my top three new shows to watch, which are all on Netflix.
- Your Lie in April: Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso
Your Lie in April is about a young piano prodigy, Kousei Arima, who has lost his motivation for playing music until he meets Kaoru Miyazono, a violin virtuoso. Kaoru reignites Arima’s passion for the piano by getting him to accompany her in a violin competition, and then pushes him to start competing again. Not only are the art style, playing animations, and music wonderful, but as a pianist myself, I recognize the kind of world that Arima and Kaoru live in, and thus have really emotionally connected with this anime. I started Your Lie in April last semester, but haven’t gotten to finish it, which is why it’s the first on my list for the summer.
- Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
I’m sure those who are somewhat familiar with anime or manga have heard this title. It’s a relatively new and popular title that follows the journey of Tanjiro Kamado becoming a demon slayer after his family was killed and his sister, Nezuko, was turned into a demon. The show features a loveable cast of characters voiced by incredibly talented actors in both the subbed and dubbed versions, a dynamic art style with incredible fight scenes, and a beautiful storyline. That’s as much as I know about it, and I can’t wait to hop on the hype train!
- Komi Can’t Communicate: Komi-san wa, Komyushou Desu.
Because I’m such a diehard fan of the “slice of life” genre, Komi Can’t Communicate has one of the top spots on my list. Originally a weekly manga series, it is now an original anime adaptation on Netflix with a second season coming next month. It follows the day-to-day life of Komi Shoko – a young girl who is extremely popular among her classmates for her beauty yet is unable to talk to anyone due to her social anxiety. I’ve heard a lot of great things about this series, so I want to see for myself how they represent social anxiety through the character of Komi.