3. Sky Alderamin

This show really took me by surprise. My brother suggested it to me; Not knowing anything about it, I just sat and watched it. Boy am I glad I did. Right now, he still has one episode left in the season and I’m dying for him to come out. The story progression may seem a bit slow, but don’t worry, every minute is amazing. The show has plenty of comedy, but dark times loom around every corner. Like a light switch, the show can go from making you laugh to nearly breaking down in tears.

The main story mainly focuses on two main characters: Ikta and Yatorishino. They are childhood friends; Ikta was an apprentice scientist and Yatorishino is a son of the Igsem family, which is known for its exceptional swordsmanship. Ikta accompanies Yatori when he leaves to take his officer’s exam; however, they end up shipwrecked along with a few others and the kingdom’s princess. Behind enemy lines, the group finds a way to return safely to the princess. After returning, their “reward” is an officer rank, forcing them to join the army, much to Ikta’s disapproval. From there, the adventure continues to get more and more complex and dark. Along the way, Ikta proves through his actions that he may be lazy, but he is the best commander this army has ever seen.

2.orange

I’m on a roll with these slice-of-life anime series, and this one throws a little supernatural stuff into the mix. Like all Slice of Life anime series, the series itself lives and dies with the characters. Orange does an excellent job of making you bond with the characters, especially the main three: Kakeru, Suwa, and Naho. His friends, acting as supporting characters, also add a lot to the story. This show will take him on a roller coaster ride of happy moments followed by feelings that will then be screamed at his TV. Personally, I yelled at the TV for Naho to hold Kakeru’s hand several times.

Orange is an anime that is based on alternate or parallel universes. A group of grown-up high school friends get together on the tenth anniversary of the death of one of their friends. The friend, Kakeru, committed suicide. The friends discuss their regrets at not being able to save Kakeru, ultimately deciding to risk their luck by writing letters to their past. They know it won’t affect the world they live in, but maybe, just maybe, there’s another world where they can save their dear friend. The story begins with the same group of friends, in high school age, receiving mysterious letters from their future selves.

1. Re: Zero

This show technically started in the spring, but it ended this summer, so it counts! Boy, this show was a roller coaster. Every episode had me on the edge of my seat, it’s easy to see why it became so popular. The main character, Subaru, goes through so much hell that you can feel for him. There are times when he is happy and that makes you happy, and times when he is completely desperate and you want to cry. The show starts with a comedy of sorts, that’s before Subaru dies for the first time, and you realize this show goes much deeper than most shows in the same genre. This show is beautifully animated, has deep and loving characters, and is overall a great anime series.

Subaru is just the normal guy making his way through life. However, after leaving a convenience store, he is somehow magically transported to another world. As he finds out, he can communicate with people in this world without problems, but his clothes and items are mysterious to people here. He soon meets Emilia after having a run-in with a pair of thieves, who at the time introduces herself as Satalia. Emilia is a half-elf, one who resembles the late wicked witch and who strikes fear into people’s hearts. After meeting the untimely end of him later, Subaru realizes that in this world he has a mysterious power. Every time he dies, he goes back to a specific point in the past where he can do it all over again. How will you use this power? Will he be able to keep his sanity after seeing and reliving deaths over and over again?

Well, there you have it. My top three anime series for this season! This season has a ton of awesome anime shows and I’m sad to see them go. I can’t wait for the last episode of Alderamin of the Sky. I don’t really see anything that piques my interest for the fall season, but I’ll have to wait and find out!